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REESE    LIBRARY 

UK   THE 

^UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

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A ccessions  No.  _ £~_«L _ t^S.^r'     Shelf  No 


DEVOUT 

EXERCISES 

O  F    T  H  E 

HEART, 

I  N 

MEDITATION,    SOLILOQUY, 
PRAYER,    AND    PRAISE. 


BY  THE  LAT&  PIOUS.A&D  INGENIOUS 
MRS.    R  O  W  E. 


REVIEWED   AND  PUBLISHED,  AT  HER  REQUEST, 


SITES  S  ITT 


HI  A: 


PRINTED  BY  T.  DOBSON,  AT  THE  STONE-HOUSE 

No  41,    SOUTH    SECOND-STREET. 
M,DCC.XCI» 


T  O 


AN  INTIMATE  fF  R  I  E  N  D  OJF 
MRS.  R  O  W  E. 


MADAM'  Nwington,  Sspt. 

IV1ADAM,  Jf 


IF  thefe  pious  MEDITATIONS,  of 
fo  fublime  a  Genius,  fhould  be  in- 
fcribed  to  any  name,  there  is  none  but 
your's  muft  have  flood  in  the  front  of 
them.  That  long  and  conftant  inti 
macy  of  friendfhip  with  which  you 
delighted  to  honour  her,  that  high 
efleem  and  veneration  you  are  pleafed 
to  pay  her  memory,  and  the  facred 
likenefs  and  fympathy  between  two 
kindred  fouls,  abfolutely  determine 
where  this  refpecl  fhould  be  paid. 

Befides,  Madam,  you  well  know, 
that  fome  copies  out  of  thefe  papers 
have  been  your  own  feveral  years,  by 
the  gift  of  the  deceafed  ;  and  the  fa 
vour  you  have  done  me  lately,  by  your 

permiffion 


4          DEDICATION. 

permiflion  to  perufe  them,  has  aflifled 
the  correction  of  thefe  MANUSCRIPTS, 
and  would  add  another  reafon  to  fupport 
this  infcription  of  them,  if  your  fear  of 
affuming  too  much  honour  could  but 
have  admitted  this  piece  of  juffice. 

I  know,  Madam,  your  tendernefs 
and  indulgence  to  every  thing  MRS 
ROWE  has  written,  cannot  with-hold 
your  judgment  from  fufpe&ing  fome 
of  her  expreffions  to  be  a  little  too 
rapturous,  and  too  near  a-kin  to  the 
language  of  the  myftical  writers  ;  yet 
your  piety  and  candour  will  take  no 
fuch  offence  as  to  prevent  your  beft 
improvement  by  them,  in  all  that  is 
divine  and  holy  :  And  may  your  retired 
hours  find  fuch  happy  affiftances  and 
elevations  hereby,  that  you  may  com 
mence  the  joys  of  angels,  and  of  blefT- 
ed  fpirits,  before-hand! 

And  when  your  valuable  life  has 
been  long  extended  amidft  all  the  tem 
poral  bleffings  you  enjoy,  and  the 
Chriflian  virtues  you  pradtife,  may 
you,  at  the  call  of  God,  find  a  gentle 
difmiffion  from  mortality,  and  afcend 

on 


DEDICATION.  5 

on  high  to  meet  your  deceafed  friend  in 
Paradife!  Nor  can  I  fuppofe,  that  any 
of  the  inhabitants  of  that  blifsful  region, 
will  fooner  recognize  your  glorified 
fpirit,  or  will  falute  your  firft  appear 
ance  there  with  a  more  tender  fenfe  of 
mutual  fatisfa<5lion.  There  may  you 
join  with  you  beloved  Philomela ,  in 
paying  celeftial  worfhip,  in  exalted 
and  unknown  forms,  to  her  God  and 
your  God !  And  may  the  harmony 
of  the  place  be  affifted  by  your  united 
fongs  to  JESUS,  your  common  Sa 
viour  ! 

I  am,  Madam,   with  great  fincerity 
and  efteem, 

Tour  ?nof}  faithful^ 

and  obedient  Servant , 
L  WATTS. 


A  3 


THE 

P    R    E    F    A    C    K 


HPHE  admirable  Author  of  thefe 
devotional  papers  has  been  in 
high  efteem  among  the  ingenious  and 
the  polite,  fince  fo  many  excellent 
fruits  of  her  pen,  both  in  verfe  and 
profe,  have  appeared  in  public.  She 
was  early,  honoured  under  the  feigned 
name  of  Philomela,  before  the  world 
was  allowed  to  know  Mrs  Elizabeth 
Singer  by  the  name  drawn  from  her 
family,  or  that  of  Mrs  Rowe  which  fhe 
acquired  by  marriage. 

Though  many  of  her  writings,,  that 
were  publifhed  in  her  life-time,  dif~ 
cover  a  pious  and  heavenly  temper, 
and  a  warm  zeal  for  religion  and  vir 
tue  j  yet  fhe  chofe  to  conceal  the  Devo~ 
tions  of  her  heart ',  till  fhe  was  got  be 
yond  the  cenfiire  and  the  applaufe  of 
mortals.  It  was  enough  that  God, 
whom  {he  loved  with  ardent  and  fu- 
premeaffe<5tion,  was  witnefs  to  all  her 
lecret  and  intenfe  breathings  after  him. 

In 


PREFACE.  7 

In  February  laft,  he  was  pleafed  to 
call  her  out  of  our  world,  and  take  her 
to  himfelf.  Some  time  after  her  de- 
ceafe,  thefe  Manufcrtpts  were  tranf- 
mitted  to  me,  all  inclofed  in  one  fheet 
of  paper,  and  directed  to  me  at  -New- - 
ington,  by  her  own  hand.  In  the 
midft  of  them  I  found  her  letter, 
which  intreated  me  to  review  them, 
and  commit  them  to  the  prefs.  This 
letter  I  have  thought  neceffary  to  fhew 
the  world,  not  fo  much  to  difcover  my 
right  to  publifh  thefe  papers,  as  to  let 
the  reader  fee  fomething  more  of  that 
holy  and  heavenly  character,  which 
Ihe  maintained  in  an  uniform  manner, 
both  in  life  and  death. 

It;  is  now  almoft  thirty  years  ago 
fince  I  was  honoured  with  her  acquain 
tance,  nor  could  her  great  modefty  con 
ceal  all  her  fliining  graces  and  accom- 
plifhments  ;  but  it  is  not  my  province 
to  give  a  particular  account  of  this  ex 
cellent  woman,  who  has  bleffed  and 
adorned  our  nation  and  our  age.  I 
expedt  her  temper,  her  conduct,  and 

her 


8  PREFACE. 

her  virtues,  will  be  fet  inajuftand 
pleafing  light  among  the  memoirs  of 
herlife,  by  fome  near  relations,,  to  whom 
the  care  of  her  poetical  pieces,  and  her 
familiar  letters,  is  committed. 

Thefe  Devout  Exercifes  are  animat 
ed  with  fuch  fire,  as  feems  to  fpeak  the 
language  of  holy  paffion,  and  difco- 
ver  them  to  be  the  diftates  of  her  heart; 
and  thofe  who  were  favoured  with  her 
chief  intimacy,  will  molt  readily  be 
lieve  it.  The  ftyle,  I  confefs,  is  raifed 
above  that  of  common  meditation  or 
foliloquy;  but  let  it  be  remembered, 
{he  was  no  common  Chriffian.  As 
her  virtues  were  fublime,  fo  her  ge- 
nious  was  bright  and  fparkling,  and 
the  vivacity  of  her  imagination  had  a 
tindture  of  the  Mufe  almoft  from  her 
childhood.  This  made  it  natural  for  her 
to  exprefs  the  in  ward  fentiments  of  her 
foul  in  more  exalted  language,  and  to 
paint  her  own  ideas  in  metaphor  and 
rapture,  near  a-kin  to  the  dkftion  of 
poefy. 

The  reader  will  here  find  a  fpirit 
dwelling  in  flejth,  elevated  into  divine 

tranfports 


PREFACE.  9 

tranfports,  congenial  to  thofe  of  angels 
and  unbodied  minds.  Her  intenfe 
love  to  her  God,  kindles  at  every  hint, 
and  tranfcends  the  limits  of  mortality. 
I  fcarce  ever  met  with  any  devotional 
writings,  which  gave  us  an  example 
of  a  foul,  at  fpecial  feafons,  fo  far 
raifed  above  every  thing  that  is  not  im- 
inortal  and  divine. 

Yet  Die  is  confcious  of  her  frailties 
too  :  She  fometimes  confeffes  her  fol 
ly  and  her  guilt  in  the  fight  of  God, 
in  the  rnoft  affecting  language  of  a  deep 
humiliation.  It  is  with  a  pathetic  fen- 
fibility  of  her  weaknefs,  and  in  the 
ftrongeft  language  of  felf  difplicency, 
flie  bewails  her  offences  againft  her 
Creator  and  Redeemer;  and  in  her 
intervals  of  darknefs,  ihe  vents  her 
painful  complaints  and  mournings, 
for  the  abfence  of  her  higheft  and  befl 
beloved. 

Let  it  be  obferved,  that  it  was  much 
the  fafhion,  even  among  fome  Divines 
of  eminence  in  former  years,  to  ex- 
prefs  the  fervours  of  devout  love  to  our 
Saviour,  in  the  ftyle  of  the  Song  of  So 
lomon: 


io  PREFACE. 

lomon  :  And  I  muft  confefs,  fevcral 
€>f  my  compofures  in  verfe,  written  in 
younger  life,  were  led  by  thofe  examples 
unwarily  into  this  track.  But  if  I  may 
be  permitted  to  fpeak  the  fenfe  of  ma 
ture  age,  I  can  hardly  think  this  the 
happieft  language  in  which  Chriftians 
fhould  generally  difcover  their  warm 
fentiments  of  religion,  fince  the  clearer 
and  more  fpiritual  revelations  of  the 
New  Teftament.  Yet  ftill  it  muft  be 
owned,  there  are  fome  fouls  favoured 
with  fuch  beatifying  vifits  from  hea 
ven,  and  raptured  with  fuch  a  flame 
of  divine  affection,  as  more  powerfully 
engages  all  animal  nature  in  their  de 
votions,  and  conftrains  them  to  fpeak 
their  pureft  and  moft  fpiritual  cxer- 
cifes,  in  fuch  pathetic  and  tender  ex- 
preffions ,  asmaybeperverfely  profaned 
by  an  unholy  conftru&ion.  And  the 
biafs  and  propenfity  towards  this  ftyle 
is  yet  ftronger,  where  early  impref- 
lions  of  piety  have  been  made  on  the 
heart  by  devout  writings  of  this  kind. 
It  fhould  be  remembered  alfo,  there 
is  nothing  to  be  found  here  which  rifes 

above 


PREPACK  ii 

above  our  ideas :  Here  are  none  of  thofc 
abfurd  and  incomprehenfible  phra- 
fes,  which  amufe  the  ear  with  found 
ing  vanity,  and  hold%  reafon  in  fove- 
reign  contempt:  Here  are  no  vifionary 
fcenes  of  wild  extravagance,  no  affec 
tations  of  the  tumid  and  unmeaning 
flyle,  which  fpreads  a  glaring  ronfufi- 
on  over  the  underftanding;  nothing 
that  leads  the  reader  into  the  region  of 
thofe  myflical  fhadows  and  darknefs 
which  abound  in  the  Romifla  writers, 
under  the  pretence  of  refined  light  and 
fublime  ecftacy.  Nor  is  the  character 
of  this  ingenious  author  to  be  blemifh- 
ed  with  any  other  reproaches,  which 
have  been  fometimes  caft  on  fuch  fort 
of  meditations. 

I  know  it  hath  been  faid,  that  this 
language  of  rapture  addrefled  to  the 
Diety,  is  but  a  new  trad:  given  to  the 
flow  of  the  fofter  powers,  after  the 
difappointment  of  fome  meaner  love  ; 
or  at  leaft,  'tis  owing  to  the  want  of  a 
proper  objed:  and  opportunity  to  fix 
thofe  tender  paffions.  But  this  cannot 
be  allowed  to  be  the  cafe  here ;  for  as 

Mrs 


12          PREFACE. 

Mrs  Rowe  had  been  fought  early  by 
feveral  lovers,  fo  fhe  fpent  feveral  years 
of  younger  life  in  the  connubial  ftate, 
with  a  gentleman  of  fuch  accomplifh- 
ments,  and  fuch  circumftances,  that 
he  was  well  fitted  to  be  a  partner  of  her 
joys  and  cares. 

I  know,  alfo,  that  this  foft  and  paf- 
fionate  turn  of  religious  meditation, 
has  fometimes  been  imputed  to  injuries 
and  ill  treatment  in  the  marriage-Hate, 
whereby  the  fame  affections  are  wean 
ed  from  an  undeferving  object,  and 
poured  out,  in  amorous  language,  up 
on  an  object  fnpremely  worthy  and 
divine.  But  neither  has  this  reproach 
any  pretence  in  the  prefent  cafe  :  That 
happy  pair  had  fouls  fo  near  a-kin  to 
each  other,  that  they  perfevered  in  un 
common  amity,  and  mutual  fatisfac- 
tion,  fo  long  as  Providence  favoured 
him  with  life.  It  is  fufficiently  evident, 
then,  that,  in  thefe  meditations,  there 
is  no  fecret  panting  after  mortal  love, 
in  the  language  of  devotion  and  piety. 

Nor  yet  can  it  be  objected,  that  it 
was  any  difplicence  and  peevifhnefs  to 
wards 


PREFACE.  13 

wards  other  things  round  about  her, 
that  taught  her  to  exprefs  herfelf  with 
fuch  contempt  of  the  things  of  morta 
lity,  and  all  the  gay  and  tempting  fcenes 
of  the  prefent  ftate.  She  was  by  no 
means  four  and  morofe,  and  out  of 
humour  with  the  world,  nor  with  her 
acquaintance  that  dwelt  in  it  :  She  of 
ten  converfed  freely  with  the  gay  and 
great,  and  was  in  high  efteem  among 
perfons  of  rank  and  honour.  But 
honour  and  rank  among  mortals,  with 
all  the  fcenes  of  gaiety  and  greatnefs, 
were  little,  defpicable,  and  forgotten 
things ;  while,  in  her  devout  moments, 
her  eye  and  her  heart  were  fixed  on 
God,  the  Supreme  Original  of  all  ex 
cellence,  and  all  honour. 

In  common  life,  Ihe  was  affable  and 
friendly  with  perfons  of  every  rank  and 
degree ;  and  in  her  latter  years,  as  fhe 
drew  nearer  to  heaven,  if  fhe  avoided 
any  thing,  it  was  grandeur  and  public 
appearances  on  earth.  But  fhe  never  fo 
concealed  and  abftradted  herfelf  from 
the  fociety  of  any  of  her  fellow-crea 
tures,  as  to  defpife  the  meanefl  of  her 
B  fpecies 


i4          PREFACE. 

fpecies.  She  was  ever  kind  and  com- 
pafTionate  to  the  diftreffed,  and  largely 
liberal  to  the  indigent.  Nor  did  fhe 
neglect  the  daily  duties  of  human  life, 
under  a  vain  imagination  that  fhe  mo 
ved  in  a  higher  fphere,  and  was  fera- 
phically  exalted  above  them. 

In  fhort,  there  is  nothing  in  thefe 
papers  that  canjuftly  fupportany  fuch 
fortofcenfures,  though  men  of  corrupt 
minds  may  cover  the  Bible  itfelf  with 
flander  and  ridicule.  Let  all  fuch  rea 
ders  ftand  aloof,  nor  touch  thefe  facred 
leaves,  left  they  pollute  them. 

Though  there  is  not  one  complete 
copy  of  verfes  amongft  all  thefe  tranf- 
ports  of  her  foul,  yet  fhe  ever  carried 
with  her  a  relifh  of  poefy  even  into  her 
facred  retirements.  Sometimes  fhe 
fprings  her  flight  from  a  line  or  two 
of  verfe,  which  her  memory  had  im- 
prefled  upon  her  heart:  fometimes, 
from  the  midft  of  her  religious  elevati 
ons,  fhe  lights  down  upon  a  few  lines 
of  fome  modern  poet,  even  Herbert  as 
well  as  Milton,  &c.  though  it  is  but 
feldom  Ihe  cites  their  names.  At  other 

times 


PREFACE.  15 

times  the  verfes  feem  to  be  theeffufion  of 
her  own  rapturous  thoughts,  in  fudden 
melody  and  metre;  or  at  leaft  I  know 
not  whence  the  lines  are  copied  :  But 
fhe  moft  frequently  doesme  the  honour 
to  make  ufe  of  fome  of  my  writings  in 
verfe,  in  thefe  holy  meditations  of  her 
heart.  Bleffed  be  that  God,  who  has 
fo  far  favoured  any  thing  my  pen  could 
produce,  as  to  affifl  fofublime  a  devo 
tion. 

From  the  different  appearance  of  the 
paper  and  ink  in  fome  of  thefe  pieces, 
as  well  as  from  the  early  tranfcripts  of 
feveral  among  her  friends,  it  is  evident 
they  were  written  in  her  younger  days; 
others  are  of  a  much  later  original > 
though  there  is  but  one  that  bears  a 
date,  and  that  is  April  30,  1735.  They 
feem  to  have  been  penned  at  fpecial 
feafons  and  occafions  throughout  the 
courfe  of  her  life.  A  few  of  them  bear 
the  corre<5tions  or  additions  of  her  own 
pen,  which  difcovers  itfelf  by  a  little 
difference  of  the  hand-writing. 

Though  flie  was  never  tempted  away 
from  our  common  Chriftianity,  into 

the 


i6          PREFACE. 

the  fafhionable  apoftacies  of  the  age, 
yet  I  am  well  informed,  from  majiy 
ha'nds,  that  in  her  later  years  fhe  en 
tered  with  more  zeal  and  affection  into 
fome  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the 
gofpel  :  And  it  is  evident,  that  fome 
of  thefe  devotional  pieces  have  a  more 
evangelic  turn  than  others,  and  proba 
bly  moft  of  thofe  were  compofed  or 
corrected  in  the  latter  part  of  her  life. 
The  oppoiition  which  has  of  late  been 
made  to  fome  of  thefe  truths,  gave  oc- 
cafion  to  her  further  fearch  into  them, 
and  her  zeal  for  them.  However,  I 
have  placed  thefe  papers  all  as  I  found 
them  pin'd  up  in  a  wrapping-paper, 
though  it  is  evident  from  plain  cir- 
cumftances,  this  is  not  the  order  in 
which  they  were  written,  nor  is  that  of 
any  great  importance. 

T  hough  thefe  writings  give  us  the  af- 
pirations  of  a  devout  foul  in  her  holy 
retirements,  when  fhe  had  no  defign  to 
rprefent  the  public  with  them ;  yet 
they  did  not  want  a  great  deal  of  adjuft- 
ment  or  correction,  in  order  to  fee  the 
light.  The  numbers,  and  the  titles, 

are 


P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  17 

are  added  by  the  publifher,  as  well  as 
the  breaks  and  paufes,  which  give  a 
fort  of  reft  to  the  reader's  mind,  and 
make  the  review  more  eafy.  Here 
and  there,  a  too  venturous  flight  is  a 
little  moderated'^  Sometimes,  amedi- 
tionor  a  fentenceis  compleated,  which 
feemed  very  imperfect ;  or  a  fhortline 
or  two  inferted,  to  introduce  the  fenfe, 
where  the  langtiage  feemed  too  abrupt, 
or  the  meaning  too  obfcure.  Her  foul 
had  a  large  fet  of  ideas  in  prefent  view, 
which  made  every  expreffion  fhe  ufed 
eafy  and  perfpicuous  to  herfelf,  when 
flie  wrote  only  for  her  own  ufe ;  though 
fometimes  her  entire  fenfe  might  not 
be  quite  fo  obvious  to  every  reader, 
without  a  little  introduction  into  her 
trad:  of  fentiments.  Upon  the  whole, 
I  muft  acknowledge,  I  was  very  un 
willing  that  this  excellent  work  ihould 
lofe  any  degrees  of  elegance  and  bright- 
nefs,  by  pafling  through  tny  hands. 

When  the  manufcriptcamefirft  un 
der  my  revifal,  1  read  i»  over  with  the 
eye  of  a  critic  and  a  friend,  that    I 
might  publifh  it  with  honour  to  the 
B  3  hand 


j  8  P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

that  wrote  it,  and  with  religious  inter- 
tainment  and  advantage  to  the  world  : 
Nor  was  this  employment  deflitute  of 
its  proper  fatisfaition.  But  never  did 
I  feel  the  true  pleafure  of  thefe  medi 
tations,  till  I  had  fiiLlhed  this  labour 
of  the  Head,  and  began  to  read  them 
over  again  as  Devout  Exercifes  of  the 
Heart :  Then  I  endeavoured  to  enter 
more  entirely  into  the  fpirit  of  the  pious 
Author,  and  attempted  to  affiime  her 
language  as  my  own.  But  how  much 
fuperior  was  the  fatisfacSion  which  I 
received  from  this  review,  efpecially 
wherefoever  I  had  reafon  to  hope  I 
could  pronounce  her  words  with  iince- 
rity  of  foul !  How  happily  did  this  raife 
and  entertain  all  my  .pleaiing  paffioixs, 
and  give  me  another  fort  of  delight  than 
the  dry  critical  perufal  of  them,  in  or 
der  to  judge  concerning  their  propriety ! 
But  I  confefs,  alfo,  it  was  an  abafing 
and  mortifying  thought,  when  I  found 
how  often  I  was  constrained  to  drop 
the  fublime  expreffion  from  my  lips, 
or  forbid  my  tongue  to  ufe  it,  becaufe 
my  own  attainments  funk  fo  far  be 
neath 


PREFACE.  19 

neath  thofe  facred  elevations  of  fpirit, 
and  fell  fo  far  fhort  of  thefe  tranfcen- 
dent  degrees  of  divine  affe&ion  and 
zeal. 

Let  me  perfuade  all  that  preufe  this 
book,  to  make  the  fame  experiment 
that  I  have  done  ;  and  when  they  have 
(hut  out  the  world,  and  are  reading  in 
their  retirements,  let  them  try  how  far 
they  can  fpeak  this  language,  and  af- 
fume  thefe  fentiments  as  their  own  : 
And,  byafpiringto  follow  them,  may 
they  find  the  fame  fatisfa&ion  and  de 
light,  or  at  leaft  learn  the  profitable 
leffons  of  felf-abafement  and  holy 
fhame  !  And  may  a  noble  and  glorious 
ambition,  excite  in  their  breafts,  a 
facred  zeal  to  emulate  fo  illuftrious  an 
example!  Whatfoever  ardours  of  divine 
love  have  been  kindled  in  a  foul  united 
toflefh  and  blood,  may  alfo  be  kindled 
by  the  fame  influences  of  grace,  in 
other  fpirits  labouring  under  the  fame 
clogs  and  impediments.! 

But  perhaps  it  will  be  neceffary  here 

to  give  a   caution  to    fome    humble 

Chriftians,  that  they  would  not  make 

i  thefe 


20  P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

thefe  higher  elevations  of  piety  and 
holy  joy,  the  teft  and  ftandard  by 
which  to  judge  of  the  fincerity  of  their 
own  religion.  Ten  thoufand  faints 
are  arrived  fa fe  at  paradife,  who  have 
not  been  favoured,  like  St  Paul,  with 
a  rapture  into  the  third  heaven,  nor 
could  ever  arife  to  the  affectionate 
tranfports  and  devout  joys  of  Mrs 
Rowe :  Yet  I  hope  all  ferious  readers 
may  find  fomething  here,  which, 
through  the  aids  of  the  Blefled  Spirit, 
may  raife  them  above  their  ufual  pitch, 
may  give  a  new  fpring  to  their  reli 
gious  pleafures  and  their  immortal 
hopes,  and  thereby  render  their  lives 
more  holy  and  heavenly. 

That  the  publication  of  this  little 
book  may  be  favoured  with  the  divine 
bleffing  for  this  happy  end,  is  the 
fincere  defire  and  requeft  of  the  pub- 
lifher,  as  it  was  the  real  motive  of  the 
ingenious  and  pious  writer  to  commit 
them  by  my  hand  to  the  public  view* 
This  fufficiently  difcovers  itfelf  in  the 
following  Letter. 


' 


OF  THE 


7J5BS 

The  r  S, 

AT    NEWINGTON. 

S  I  R, 

HTHE  opinion  I  have  had  of  your  piety 

•*•  and  judgment^  is  the  reafon  of  my  giv 

ing  you  the  trouble   of  looking  over  thefc 

papers,  in  order  to  publifh  them  ;  which 

I  dejire  you  to  do  as  foon  as  you  can  con 

veniently  ;  only  you  have  full  liberty  to 

fupprejs  what  you  think  proper. 

1  think  there  can  be  no  vanity  in  this 
dcfign,  for  I  amfenjiblefuch  thoughts  as 
theje  will  not  be  for  the  tafte  of  the  mo- 
difo  part  of  the  world  ;  and  before  they 
appear,  IJbalt  be  entirely  dijinterefted  in 
the  cenfure  or  applaufe  of  mortals, 

The  rejletlions  were  occajionally  writ" 
ten,  and  only  for  my  own  improvements  ; 
but  I  am  not  without  hopes  ,  tbat  they  may 
have  the  fame  ejfeff  on  fome  pious  minds, 
as  the  reading  the  experiences  of  others 
have  had  on  my  own  foul.  The  experi 
mental  part  of  religion  ,  has  a  greater  influ 

ence 


ence  than  its  theory  ;  and  if  \  when  I  am 
Jleeping  in  the  daft,  thefe  foliloquies  foould 
kindle  a  flame  of  divine  love  in  the  heart 
of  the  loweft  and  mo  ft  def fifed  Chriftian, 
be  the  glory  given  to  the  great  Spring  of 
all grace  and  benignity. 

I  have  now  done  with  mortal  things ', 
and  all  to  come  is  vajl  Eternity. Eter 
nity, How  tranfporting  is  the  found  ! 

As  long  as  Godexifts,  my  being  and  bap- 
pi  nefs  is fc cure.   (ihe/e  unbounded  dejires, 
which  the  wide  creation  cannot  limit  ^Jhall 
befatisfiedfor  ever.    I  foal  I  drink  at  the 
fountain-head  of  pleajure^    and  be  re 
ft  efted  with  the  emanations  of  original 
life  and  joy.     Ifoall  hear  the  ^oice   of 
uncreated  harmony -,  f peaking  peace  and 
ineffable  confolation  to  my  foul. 

I  expect  eternal  life  i  not  as  a  reward 
(of  merit)  but  a  pure  a5l  of  bounty. 
Detefting  my  f  elf  in  every  view  lean  take, 
Ijfy  to  the  righteoufnefs  and  atonement 
of  my  great*  Redeemer,  for  pardon  and 
falvation  ;  this  is  my  only  confolation  and 
hope.  Enter  not  into  judgment,,  O 
Lord  !  with  thy  fervant ;  for  in  thy 
fight  lhallnoflefh  be  juftified. 

Through 


Through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  I  hope 

jor  an  entire  viffory  over  the  loft  enemy; 

and  that  before  this  comes  to  you ,  Ijhall 

have  reached  the  celejlial  heights ;  and 

while  you  are  reading  thefe  lines,  Ijhall 

be  adoring  before  the  throne  of  God,  where 

faith  Jhall  be  turned  into  vijion^  and  thefe 

languijhing  dejires  fatisfied  with  the  full 

fruition  of  immortal  love.     Adieu, 

ELIZ.    ROWE. 


DEVOUT 

EXERCISES 

OF     THE 

HEART, 


I.  Supreme  Love  to  GOD. 

WHY,  O  my  God!  muft  this 
mortal  ftruiture  put  fo  great  a 
feparation  between  my  foul  and  thee  ? 
I  am  furrounded  with  thy  eflence,  yet 
I  cannot  perceive  thee  j  I  follow  thee, 
and  trace  thy  footfteps  in  heaven  and 
earth,  yet  I  cannot  overtake  thee  ;  thou 
art  before  me,  and  I  cannot  reach 
thee, — and  behind  me,  and  I  perceive 
thee  not. 

O  thou  whom  unfeen  I  love  !  by 
what  powerful  influence  doft  thou 
attract  my  foul?  The  eye  has  not  feen, 
nor  the  ear  heard,  nor  has  it  entered  in 
to  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive,  what 
thou  art ;  and  yet  I  love  thee  beyond 
all  that  my  eye  has  feen,  or  my  ear 
heard,  beyond  all  that  my  heart  can  com- 
C  prehend. 


a 6  Devout  Exercifes  I. 

prehend.  Thou  dwelleft  in  heights  of 
glory,  ^to-- which  no  human  thoughts 
can  foar ;  and  yet  thou  art  more  near 
and  intimate  to  my  foul,  than  any  of 
the  objects  of  fenfe.  Thefe  ears  have 
never  heard  thy  voice ;  and  yet  I  am 
better  acquainted  with  thee,  and  can 
rely  on  thee  with  more  confidence,  than 
on  the  deareft  friend  I  have  on  earth. 

My  heart  cleaves  to  thee,  O  Lord  ! 
as  its  only  refuge,  and  finds  in  thee  a 
lecret  and  conftant  fpring  of  confolati- 
on.  1  fpeak  to  thee  with  the  utmoft 
confidence,  and  think  thy  Being  my 
greateft  happinefs.  The  reflection  on 
thy  exiftence  and  greatnefs  recreates  my 
fpirits,  and  fills  my  heart  with  alacri 
ty;  my  foul  overflows  with  pleafure; 
I  rejoice,  I  triumph,  in  thy  indepen 
dent  bleflednefs,  and  abfolute  domi 
nion.  Reign,  O  my  God!  forever, 
glorious  and  uncontrouled. 

I,  a  worm  of  the  earth,  would  join 
my  aflent  with  the  infinite  orders  above, 
with  all  thy  flaming  minifters,  who 
rejoice  in  thy  kingdom  and  glory. 

Tho' 


I.  of  the  Heart,  27 


ThoJ  not  with  them,  thy  happier  race,  allow'd 
To  view  the  bright  unveil' d  Divinity; 
(By  no  audacious  glance  from  mortal  eyes, 
Thofe  my  flic  glories  are  to  be  prophan'd) 
But  yet  I  feel  the  fame  immortal  flames, 
And  love  thee,  tho'  unfeen, 

I  love  thee, — Thus  far  I  can  fpeak, 
but  all  the  reft  is  unutterable ;  and  I 
muft  leave  the  pleafing  tale  untold,  till 
I  can  talk  in  the  language  of  immortal 
ity  :  And  then  I'll  begin  the  tranfpor- 
ting  ftory,  which  fhall  never  come  to 
an  end,  but  be  ftill  and  ftill  beginning: 
For  thy  beauties,  O  thou  faireft  of  ten 
thoufand  !  will  ftill  be  new,  and  fhall 
kindle  frefh  ardor  in  my  foul  to  all  e- 
ternity.  The  facred  flame  fhall  rife, 
nor  find  any  limits,  till  thy  perfections 
find  a  period. 

I  love  thee  ;  and  O  thou  that  know- 
eft  all  things  !  read  the  characters  that 
love  has  drawn  on  my  heart.  What 
excellence  but  thine  in  heaven  and  earth 
could  raife  fuch  afpirations  of  foul,  fuch 
fublime  and  fervent  affediions  as  thofe 
I  feel  ?  What  could  fix  my  fpirit,  but 
boundlefs  prefe&ion  ?  What  is  there 

elfe 


28  Devout  Exercifes  I. 

elfe  for  whofefake  I  could  defpife  all 
created  glory?  Why  am  I  not  at 
reft  here  among  fenfible  enjoyments  ? 
Whence  arife  thefe  importunate  long 
ings,  thefe  infinite  defires  ?  Why  does 
not  the  complete  creation  fatisfy,  or 
at  leaft  delude  me  with  a  dream  of  hap- 
pinefs  ?  Why  do  not  the  objects  of  fenfe 
awake  a  more  ardent  fentirnent,  than 
things  diftant  and  invifible  ?  Why 
fhould  I,  who  '*  fay  to  corruption, 
Thou  srt.my  Father/'  afpire  after  an 
union  with  the  immenfe  Divinity  ? 

Ye  angels  of  God,  that  behold  his 
face,  explain  to  me  the  facred  myftery ; 
tell  me  how  this  heavenly  flame  be 
gan  ;  unriddle  its  wondrous  genera 
tion  :  Who  hath  animated  this  mortal 
frame  with  celeftial  fire,  and  given  a 
clod  of  earth  this  divine  ambition  ? 
What  could  kindle  it,  but  the  breath 
of  God,  which  kindled  up  my  foul  ? 
And  to  thee,  its  amiable  original,  it 
afcends,  it  breaks  through  all  created 
p  refection,  and  keeps  on  its  reftlefs 
eourfe,  to  the  firft  pattern  of  beauty. 

Ye  flowery  varieties  of  the  earth, 

and 


I';  of  the  He  art.  2^ 

and  ye  fparkling  glories  of  the  fkies, 
yourblandifhments  are  vain,  while  I 
purfue  an  excellence  that  cafts  a  re 
proach  on  all  your  glory.  I  would 
fain  clofe  my  eyes  on  all  the  various 
and  lovely  appearances  you  prefent, 
and  would  open  them  on  a  brighter 
fcene.  I  have  defires  which  nothing 
vifible  can  gratify  ;  to  which  no  ma 
terial  things  are  fuitable.  O !  when 
(hall  I  find  objects  more  entirely  a- 
greeable  to  my  intellectual  faculties  ? 
My  foul  fprings  forward  in  purfuit  of 
a  diftant  good,  whom  I  follow  by  fome 
faint  ray  of  light,  which  only  glim 
mers  by  fhort  intervals  before  me.  Oh ! 
when  will  it  difperfe  the  clouds,  and 
break  out  in  full  fplendor  on  my  foul. 
But  what  will  the  open  vifion  of  thy 
beauties  effedt,  if,  while  thou  art  but 
faintly  imagined,  I  love  thee  with  fuch 
a  facred  fervour  ?  To  what  bleffed 
heights  fhall  my  admiration  rife,  when 
I  fhall  behold  thee  in  full  perfection ; 
when  I  fhall  fee  thee  as  thou  art,  exalt 
ed  in  majefty,  and  complete  in  beau- 
C  3  ty.  ? 


3O  Devout   Exercijes  II. 

ty  ?  How  fhall  I  triumph  then  in  thy 
glory,  and  in  the  privileges  of  my  own 
being  ?  What  ineffable  thoughts  will 
rife,  to  find  myfelf  united  to  the  all- 
fufficient  Divinity,  by  ties  which  the 
fons  of  men  have  no  names  to  exprefs, 
by  an  engagement  that  the  revolution 
of  eternal  years  fhall  not  diffolve  ?  The 
league  of  nature  fhall  be  broken,  and 
the  laws  of  the  mingled  elements  be 
cancelled  ;  but  my  relation  to  the  Al 
mighty  God,  fhall  ftand  fixed  and  un 
changeable,  as  his  own  existence:  "  Nor 
"  life,  nor  death,  nor  angels,  princi- 
"palities,nor  powers,  nor  things  pre- 
"  fent,  nor  things  to  come,  fhall  ever 
"  feparate  me  from  his  love." 

Triumph,  O  my  foul !  and  rejoice  ; 
Look  forward  beyond  the  period  of  all 
terreftrial  things ;  look  beyond  ten 
thoufand  ages  of  celeftial  bleffednefs  ; 
look  forward  ftill,  and  take  an  immea- 
furable  profped: ;  prefs  on,  and  leave 
unnumbered  ages  behind,  ages  of  in 
effable  peace  and  pleafure  ;  plunge  at 
once  into  the  ocean  of  blifs,  and  call 
eternity  itielf  thy  own. 

There 


II.  of  the  Heart  31 

There  are  no  limits  to  the  profped: 
of  my  joy;  it  runs  parallel  with  the 
duration  of  the  Infinite  Divinity;  My 
blifs  is  without  bounds  ;  O  !  when 
ftiall  the  full  poffeffion  of  it  com 
mence  ? 

II. 

The  Truth  and  Goodnefs  of  GOD 

ENgrav'tl  as  in  eternal  brafs, 
The  mighty  promife  (bines  ; 
Nor  can  the  powers  of  darknefs  raze 
Thefe  evcrlafting  lines. 

The  facred  word  of  grace  is  ftrong, 

As  that  which  built  the  flues  ; 
The  voice  that  rolls  the  ftars  along, 

Speaks  all  the  promifes. 

And  they  all  are  built  on  the  immuta 
ble  truth  and  goodnefs  of  thy  nature: 
Thou  dolt  not  fpeak  at  random,  like 
yainman;  but  whatever  thou  haft  en 
gaged  to  perform,  is  the  refill  t  of  eternal 
counfel  and  defign.  Thou  haft  uttered 
nothing  that  thou  canft  fee  occafion  to 
alter  on  a  fecond  review :  Thou  canft 
promife  nothing  to  thy  own  damage, 
nor -be  a  lofer  by  the  utmoft  liberality. 

Thou 


32  Devout  Exercifes  If, 

Thou  art  every  way  qualified  to  make 
good  thy  engagements,  by  the  fulnefs 
of  thy  riches  and  power. 

Nor  haft  thou  any  neceffity  to  flatter 
thy  creatures,  or  to  fay  kinder  things 
to  them  than  thou  meaneft  to  fulfils 
Miferable  rnan  can  bring  no  advantage 
to  thee,  nor  has  any  thing  to  claim  from 
thee.  By  what  benefit  has  he  prevented 
thee?  By  what  right  can  he  demand 
the  leaft  of  thy  favours  ?  Thy  engage 
ments  are  all  free  and  unconftrained, 
founded  on  thy  own  beneficence,  and 
not  on  the  merits  of  the  creature.  While 
I  confider  this,  my  expectations  rife, 
I  fet  no  limits  to  my  hopes:  I  look 
up  with  confidence,  and  call  thee  my 
Father;  and,  with  a  humble  faith,  I 
claim  every  advantage  that  tender  name 
imports.  My  heart  confides  in  thee 
with  ftedfaftnefs  and  alacrity;  fear  and 
diftruft  are  inconfiftent  with  my 
thoughts  of  the  beneficence  of  thy  na 
ture. 

Every  name  and  attribute  by  which 
thou  haft  revealed  thy felf  toman,  con 
firms  my  faith.  Thy  life,  thy  being  is 

engaged  : 


II.  of  the  Heart.  33 

engaged :  I  may  as  well  queftion  thy 
exigence,  as  thy  faithfulnefs  :  As  fare 
as  thou  art,  thou  artjuft  and  true.  The 
protections  of  the  moft  faithful  friend 
I  have,  cannot  give  me  half  the  confo- 
lation  that  thy  promifes  give  me.  I 
hear  vain  man  with  diffidence,  1  bid 
my  foul  beware  of  trufting  falfe  mor 
tality;  but  I  hear  thy  voice  with  joy 
and  full  affurance. 

Thy  words  are  not  writ  in  fand,  nor 
fcattered  by  the  fleeting  winds ;  but  lhall 
ftand  in  force  when  heaven  and  earth 
ihall  be  no  more.  Eternal  ages  fhall  not 
diminifh  their  efficacy,  nor  alter  what 
the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  fpoken.  I 
believe,  I  believe,  with  the  moft  per 
fect  affent  :  I  know  that  thou  art,  and 
that  thou  art  a  revvarder  of  them  thatdi- 
ligently  feek  thee  \  I  feel  the  evidence, 
for  thou  haft  not  left  thyfelf  without 
witnefs  in  my  heart. 


HI. 


3  4  Devout  Exercifes  III. 

III. 

Longing  after  the  enjoyment  of  GOD* 

MY  God  !  to  thee  my  fighs  afcend  : 
every  complaint  I  make,  ends 
with  thy  name  ;  I  paufe,  I  dwell  on 
the  found  ;  I  fpeak  it  over  again,  and 
find  that  all  my  cares  begin  and  end  in 
thee.  I  long  to  behold  the  fupreme 
beauty,  I  pant  for  the  fair  original  of  all 
that  is  lovely,  for  beauty  that  is  yet  un 
known,  and  for  intellectual  pleafures 
yet  untafted. 

My  heart  afpires,  my  wifhes  fly 
beyond  the  bounds  of  creation,  and 
defpife  all  that  mortality  can  prefent 
me  with.  I  was  formed  for  celeftial 
joys,  and  find  myfelf  capable  of  the 
entertainments  of  angels.  Why  may 
I  not  begin  my  heaven  below,  and 
tafte  at  leaft  of  the  fprings  of  pleafure 
that  flow  from  thy  right  hand  for 
ever  ? 

Should  I  drink  my  fill,  thofe  fountains 
are  ftill  exhauftlefs  ;  millions  of  happy 
fouls  quench  their  infinite  defires  there : 

millions 


III.  of  the  Heart.  35 

millions  of  happy  orders  of  beings 
gaze  on  thy  beauty,  and  are  made 
partakers  of  thy  bleffednefs  ;  but  thou 
art  ftill  undiminifhed.  No  liberality 
can  wafte  the  ftore  of  thy  prefection  ; 
it  has  flowed  from  eternity,  and  runs 
for  ever  frefh,—  and  why  muft  I 
perifh  for  want  ! 

My  thirfty  foul  pines  for  the  waters 
of  life :  Oh !  who  will  refrefh  me 
with  the  pleafureable  draught  ?  How 
long  fhall  I  wander  in  this  defartland, 
where  every  profped:  is  wafte  and  bar 
ren  ?  I  look  round  me  in  vain,  and  figh 
ftill  unfatisfied.  Oh!  who  will  lead 
me  to  the  ftill  waters,  and  make  me 
repofe  in  green  paftures,  where  the 
weary  are  for  ever  at  reft  ?  How 
tedious  are  the  hours  of  expectation  ! 

Come,  Lord !  my  head  doth  burn,  my  heart  is  fick, 

While  thou  doft  ever,  ever  flay; 
Thy  long  deferring  wounds  me  to  the  quick, 
My  fpirit  gafpeth  night  and  day : 
O  ihew  thyfelf  to  me, 
Or  take  me  up  to  thee. 

Diipatch  thy  commiffions  ;  give  me 

my 


36  Devout  Exercifes  III. 

my  work,  and  activity  to  perform  it, 
and  let  me  as  a  hireling  fulfil  my  day. 
Lord  !  it  is  enough  :  What  am  I  better 
than  my  fathers !  They  are  dead,  and  I 
am  mortal. 

I'm  but  a  ftranger,  and  a  pilgrim  here 

In  thefe  wild   regions,  wand' ring  and  forlorn  ; 

Reftlefs,  and  fighing  for  my  native  home ; 

Longing  to  reach  my  weary  fpace  of  life, 

And  to  fulfil   my  tafk.     Oh !    hafte  the   hour 

Of  joy  aad  fweet  repofe.     Tranfporting  hope  ! 

Lord  !  here  I  am  waiting  for  thy 
commands,  attending  to  thy  pleafure. 
O  fpeak,  and  incline  my  ear  to  hear  ; 
give  me  my  work,  let  me  finifh  it, 
and  gain  my  difmiffion  from  this  body 
of  fin  and  death :  this  hated  clog  of  er 
ror  and  guilt,  of  corruption  and  vanity. 
Oh !  let  me  drop  this  load,  and  bid  thefe 
fcenes  of  guilt  a  final  adieu. 

I  have  waited  for  thy  falvation,  O 
Lord  !  when  wilt  thou  let  me  into  thy 
holy  habitation  ?  How  long  fhall  I 
pine  at  this  diftance  from  thee  ?  What 
can  I  fpeak,  to  fhew  thee  my  pain,  to 
utter  my  anguifli,  when  I  fear  the  lofs 

3  of 


III.  of  the  Heart.  37 

of  my  God  ?  Oh !  fpeak  an  alluring 
word,  and  confirm  my  hope. 

Tranfporting  moment  !  when  wilt  thou    appear. 
To  crown  my  hopes,  and  banifli  all  my  fear  ? 

Again,  O  my  Father,  and  my  eter 
nal  Friend  !  I  breathe  my  requefts  to 
thee  in  this  land  of  fatigue  and  folly  : 
What  is  this  life  but  a  forry  tirefome 
round,  a  circle  of  repeated  vanities  ? 
Happinefs  has  been  never  feen  in  it, 
fince  fin  and  folly  entered  :  All  is  emp 
ty  appearance,  or  vain  labour,  or  pain 
ful  vexation. 

Suffic'd  with  life,  my  languid  fpirits  faint, 
And  fain  would  be  at  reft.     Oh  !  let  me  enter 
Thofe  facred  feats  ;  and,  after  all  the  toil 
Of  life,  begin  an  everlafting  Sabbath. 

Yet  again,  O  Lord  !  I  aik  leave  to 
tell  thee,  I  have  waited  for  thy  falva- 
tion ,  and  hourly  languifhed  after  the  ha 
bitat  ions  of  my  God.  My  heart  grows 
fick,  and  I  almoft  expire  under  thefe 
delays  :  What  have  I  here  to  keep  me 
from  thee  ?  what  to  relieve  the  tedious 
hour  of  abfence  ?  I  have  pronounced  all 
D  below 


38  Devout •  Exercifes  IV. 

below  the  fun  vanity  and  vexation,  all 
infipid  and  burdenfome  :  Amidft 
health  and  plenty,  friends  and  reputa 
tion,  thou  art  my  only  joy,  my  higheft 
wifh,  and  my  fupreme  delight.  On 
thee  my  foul  fixes  all  her  hopes  j 
there  I  reft  in  a  celeftial  calm.  Oh  ! 
let  it  not  be  broken  with  earthly 
objects  ;  let  me  live  unmolefted  with 
cares  or  delights  of  fenfe. 

Oh !  let  me  flee 
From  all  the  world,  and  live  alone  to  thee. 

IV. 

GOD  my  fupreme ',  my  only  hope. 

WHY  do  I  addrefsthee,  my  God, 
with  no  more  confidence  ?  Why 
do  I  indulge  thefe  remains  of  unbelief, 
and  harbour  thefe  returns  of  infidelity 
and  diftruft  ?  Can  I  furvey  the  earth, 
can   I   gaze    on  the  ftru6ture   of  the 
heavens,  andafk  if  thou  art  able  to  deli 
ver  ?  Can  I  call  in  queftion  thy  ability  to 
fuccour  me,  when  I  confider  the  gene 
ral 


IV.  of  the  Heart.  39 

ral  and  particular  inftances  of  thy 
goodnefs  and  power  ?  One  age  to  an 
other  in  long  fucceflion,  hath  conveyed 
the  records  of  thy  glory  ;  in  all  genera 
tions  thou  haft  been  our  dwelling- 
place  ;  my  fathers  trufted  in  thee,  and 
were  delivered.  They  have  encour 
aged  me  ;  my  own  experience  has  en 
couraged  me  to  truft  in  thee  for  ever. 
The  fun  may  fail  to  rife,  and  men 
in  vain  expe6t  its  light;  but  thy  truth, 
thy  faithfulnefs,  cannot  fail:  The 
courfe  of  nature  may  be  reverfed,  and 
all  be  chaos  again ;  but  thou  art  im 
mutable,  and  canft  not  by  any  change 
deceive  the  hopes  of  them  that  truft  in 
thee.  I  adore  thy  power,  and  fub- 
fcribe  to  thy  goodnefs  and  fidelity;  and 
what  farther  objection  would  my  unbe 
lief  raife?  Is  any  thing  too  hard  for 
God  to  accomplifh?  Can  the  united 
force  of  earth  and  hell  refift  his  will  ? 

Great  God !  how  wide  thy  glories  fhine ! 
How  broad  thy  kingdom,  how  divine  ! 
Nature  and  miracle,  and  fate  and  chance 
are   thine. 

Therefore 


40  Devout  Exercifes  1 V . 

Therefore  I  apply  myfelf  immediate 
ly  to  thee,  and  renounce  all  the  terror 
and  all  the  confidence  that  may  arifc 
from  heaven  or  earth  befides. 

Not  from  the  dufl  my  joys  or  forrows  fpring ; 
Let  all  the  baleful  planls  flied 
Their  m';ngled  curies  round  my  head  ; 

Their  mingled  eurfes  I  defpife, 
Let  but  the  great,  th'  eternal  king, 

:k  thro'  the  ciouda,  and  blefs  me  with 
his  eyes* 

Let  him  blefs  me,  and  I  fliall  be 
bleiled  ;  bleffed  without  referve  or  li 
mitation  ;  bleffed  in  my  going  out  and 
coming  in,  in  my  fitting  down  and  ri- 
fing  up;  bleffed  in  time,  and  bleffed  to 
all  eternity.  That  bleffing  from  thy 
lips  will  influence  the  whole  creation, 
and  attend  me  wherever  I  am.  It  fhall 
.go  before  me  as  a  leading  light,  and 
follow  me  as  my  protecting  angel. 
When  I  lye  down,  it  will  cover  me;  I 
ihall  reftbeneath  the  fhadow  of  the  Moft 
High,  and  dwell  fafely  in  the  fecrets  of 
his  tabernacle. 

Thy  kingdom  ruleth  over  all,    O 
Lord  !  and  thou  doft  according  to  thy 

will 


IV.  of  the  Heart.  41 

will  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and  a- 
mong  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth !  I 
confefs  and  acknowledge  thy  providence . 
The  ways  of  man  are  not  at  his  own  dif- 
pofal,  but  all  his  goings  are  ordered  by 
thee  j  all  events  are  in  thy  hands,  and 
thou  only  can  ft  fucceed  or  difappoint  his 
hopes.  If  thotf  blow  on  his  defigns, 
they  are  for  ever  blafted ;  if  thou  blefs 
them,  neither  earth  nor  hell  can  hinder 
their  fuccefs  :  Therefore  I  apply  my- 
felf  immediately  to  thee;  for  not  all  cre 
ated  power  can  affift  me,  without  thee. 

Hence  from  my  heart  ye  idols  flee, 
Ye  founding  names  of  vanity! 
No  more  my  tongue  fhall  facrifice  "^ 

To  chance  and  nature,  tales  and  lies;  s 

Creatures  without  a  God,  can  yield  me 
no  fupplies. 

Not  all  the  power  of  men  on  earth, 
nor  angel  nor  faint  in  heaven,  can  help 
or  relieve  me  in  the  leaft  exigence,  if 
my  God  hide  himfelf,  andftand  afar  off 
from  me.  Second  caufes  are  all  at  thy 
direction,  and  cannot  aid  me  till  com- 
miffioned  by  thee* 

Lord 

3 


42  Devout  Exercifes  IV. 

Lord !  when  my  thoughtful  foul  furveys 
Fire,  air  and  earth,  and  ftars  and  leas, 

I  call  them  all  thy  flaves , 
Commiflion'd  by  my  Father's  will, 
Poifons  fhall  cure,  or  balm  fhall  kill ; 
Vernal  funs,  or  zephyrs  breath, 
May  burn  or  blaft  the  plants  to  death 

That  iharp  December  faves. 
What  can  winds  or  planets  boaft, 

But  a  precarious  power  ? 
The  fun  is  all  in  darknefs  loft  : 
Frolt  fhall  be  fire  and  fire  be  froft, 

When  he  appoints  the  hour 

At  thy  command  nature  and  necef- 
jfity  are  no  more  j  all  things  are  alike 
eaiy  to  God  :  Speak  but  thou  the 
Word,  and  my  defires  are  granted  : 
Say,  Let  there  be  light,  and  there  fhall 
be  light.  Thou  canft  look  me  in 
peace,  when  the  tumult  of  thoughts 
raife  a  ftorm  within.  Bid  my  foul  be 
ftill,  and  all  its  tempeft  lhall  obey 
thee. 

I  depend  only  on  theej  do  thou 
fmile,  and  all  the  world  may  frown  : 
Do  thou  fucceed  my  affairs,  and  I  fhall 
fear  no  obftacle  that  earth  or  hell  can 
put  in  my  way.  Thou  only  art  the 

objed; 


IV.  of  the  Heart.  43 

objedt  of  my  fear,    and  all  my  defires 
are  directed  to  thee. 

Human  things  have  loft  their  being 
and  their  names,  and  vanifh  into  no 
thing  before  thee  :  They  are  but  fhades 
and  difguifes  to  veil  the  active  Divini 
ty.  Oh  !  let  me  break  through  all 
thefe  feparations,  and  fee,  and  confefs 
the  great,  the  governing  caufe.  Let 
no  appearance  of  created  things, 
however  fpecious,  hide  thee  from  my 
view  :  Let  me  look  though  all  to  thee, 
nor  caft  a  glance  of  love  or  hope  below 
thee.  With  a  holy  contempt  let  me 
furvey  the  ample  round  of  the  creation, 
as  lying  in  the  hollow  of  thy  hand,  and 
every  being  in  heaven  and  on  earth  as 
unmoveable,  by  the  moft  potent  caufe 
in  nature,  till  commiffioned  by  thee 
to  do  me  good  or  hurt.  Oh  !  let  thy 
hand  be  with  me  to  keep  me  from  evil, 
and  let  me  abide  under  the  fhadow  of 
the  Almighty  :  I  lhall  be  fecure  in  thy 
pavilion.  To  thee  I  fly  for  fhelter, 
from  all  the  ills  of  mortality. 


44  Devout  Exercifes  V. 

V. 

GOD  a  prefent  bclp>  and  ever  near. 

HPHOU  waft  found  of  me,  O  my 
God  !  when  I  fought  thee  not, 
and  wilt  thou  fly  me  when  I  feek  thee  ? 
Am  I  giving  my  breath  to  the  wind, 
and  fcattering  my  petitions  in  the  air? 
Is  it  a  vain  thing  to  call  upon  God  ?  and 
is  thereNno  profit  in  crying  to  the  Al 
mighty  ?  jft4t  thou  a  God  afar  off,  and 
not  near  at  hand?  Is  there  any  place  ex 
empt  from  thyprefence?  any  diftance 
whence  my  cries  cannot  reach  thee  ? " 
Can  any  darknefs  hide  me  from  thy 
eyes  ?  or  is  there  a  corner  of  the  crea 
tion  unvifited  by  thee  ?  Doft  thou  not 
fill  heaven  and  earth,  and  am  I  notTur- 
rounded  by  thy  immenfity  ? 

Are  my  defires  unknown  to  thee  ?  or 
is  there  a  thought  in  my  heart  conceal 
ed  from  thee  ?  Doft  not  thou  that  haft 
formed  the  ear,  hear  ?  Canft  thou  for 
get  the  work  of  thine  own  hands  ?  or, 
retired  far  in  the  heavens,  fullof  thine 
own  happinefs,  canft  thou  leave  thy 
creation  to  miferyanddiforder,  helplefs 
and  hopelefs?  Are  the  ways  of  man  at 

his 


V.  of  the  Heart.  45 

his  own  difpofal,  and  his  paths  undi- 
redted  by  thee  ?  Is  calling  on  the  living 
God  no  more  than  worfhipping  a  dumb 
idol?  Canft  thou,  like  them,  difap- 
point  and  mock  thy  adorers  ? 

Art  thou  unacquainted  with  the  ex 
tent  of  thy  own  power,  that  thou 
iliouldft  promife  beyond  thy  ability  to 
perform?  or  art  thou  as  a  man  that 
ihouldft  lie,  or  the  fon  of  man  that 
ihouldft  repent  ?  Is  thy  faithfulnefs 
uncertain,  and  thy  power  precarious? 
Are  thofe  perfections  imaginary,  for 
which  men  adore  thee,  and  thy  graci 
ous  names  infignificant  titles?  Do  the 
children  of  men  in  vain  put  their  trull 
under  the  fhadow  of  thy  wings  ?  Art 
not  thou  a  prefent  help  in  the  time  of 
trouble,  and  is  there  no  fecurity  in  the 
fecret  places  of  the  Moil  High?  Whi 
ther  then  fhall  I  look  in  my  diftrefs  ?  To 
whom  fhall  I  direct  my  prayer  ?  From 
whom  fhall  I  expedt  relief  if  there  is  no 
help  in  God  for  me? 

But,  oh  !  what  unrighteoufnefs  have 
my  fathers  ever  found  in  thee  ?  What 
injustice  can  I  charge  thee  with? 

What 


46  Devout  Exercifes  VI. 

What  breach  of  truth,  or  want  of  pity  ? 
Have  the  records  of  thy  actions  ever 
been  ftained  with  the  breach  of  faith- 
fulnefs  ?  Art  thou  not  my  only  hope, 
and  my  long  experienced  fupport  ?  Have 
I  ever  found  help  from  the  creatures, 
when  thou  haft  failed  me  ?  Have  I,  or 
can  I  have  a  greater  certainty  than  thy 
word  to  depend  on  ?  Can  any  other 
power  defend  or  deliver  like  thee  ?  Thou 
art  "  a  rock,  and  thy  work  is  perfect, 
"  for  all  thy  ways  are  judgment :  a  God 
f<  of  truth,  and  without  iniquity ;  juft 
"  and  right  art  thou."  With  my  laft 
breath  I  will  witnefs  to  thy  truth  and 
faithfulnefs,  and  declare  thy  goodnefs 
to  the  children  of  men. 

VI. 

GOD  an  all-fujftcient   God,  and  my  only 
happinefs* 

WHY  is  my  heart  fo  far  fom  thee, 
My  God,  my  chief  delight  ? 
Why  are  my  thoughts  no  more  by  day 
With  thee,  no  more  by  night  ? 

Why  fhould  my  fooliih  paflions  rove  ? 
Where  can  fuch  fweetnefs  be, 

As 


VI.  of  the  Heart.  47 

As  I  have  tailed  in  thy  love, 
As  I  have  found  in  thee  ? 

Where  can  I  hope  to  meet  fuch  joys 
as  thy  fmiles  have  given  me?  Where 
can  I  find  pleafure  fo  fincere  and  un- 
allayed  ?  When  I  have  enjoyed  the 
light  of  thy  countenance,  and  the  fenfe 
of  thy  love,  has  not  all  my  foul  been 
filled  ?  Have  I  found  any  want  or  emp- 
tinefs?  Has  there  been  any  room  left 
for  defire,  or  any  profped:  beyond,  be- 
fides  the  more  perfect  enjoyment  of  my 
God  ?  Have  not  all  the  glories  of  the 
world  been  darkened,  and  turned  into 
blacknefs  and  deformity?  How  poor, 
how  contemptible  have  they  appeared  ? 
or  rather  have  they  not  all  difappeared 
and  vanifhed  as  dreams  and  fhadows  in 
the  noon  of  day,  and  under  the  blaze 
of  fun-beams  ? 

I  have  never  found  fatisfa<5Hon  in  a- 
ny  thing,  but  in  God  :  Why  then  do 
I  wander  from  him?  Why  do  I  leave 
the  fountain  of  living  waters,  for  bro 
ken  cifterns  ?  Why  do  I  abandon  the 
full  ocean  in  fearch  of  fhallow  ftreams  ? 
What  account  can  I  give  for  folly  like 

this? 


4 8  Devout  Exercifes  VI. 

this?  I  can  promife  myfelf  nothing 
from  the  creature;  thofe  expectations 
fhall  deceive  me  no  more.  'Tis  thou, 
my  God  !  thou  art  the  only  objed  of  my 
hopes  and  defires ;  'tis  thou  only  that 
can  ft  make  me  happy. 

If  thou  frown,  my  being  is  a  curie ; 
thy  indignation  is  hell  with  all  its  terrors . 
Let  me  never  feel  that,  and  I  defy  all 
things  elfe  to  make  me  miferable.  I 
feem  independent  on  all  nature  ;  to  thee 
only  I  apply  myfelf.  Hear  me,  thou 
beneficent  Author  of  my  being,  thou 
fupport  of  my  life !  To  thee  I  dired  my 
wifhes,  thofe  defires  which  thou  wilt 
approve,  while  I  alk  but  the  happinefs 
I  was  created  to  enjoy.  Oh!  fix  all 
my  expedition  on  thee,  and  free  me 
from  this  levity  and  inconftancy. 

Look  gently  down  Almighty  Grace  ! 
Prifon  me  round  in  thy  embrace  : 
Pity  the  heart  that  would  be  thine, 
And  let  thy  power  my  love  confine. 

Suffer  me  never  to  ftart  from  thee ; 
fuch  a  confinement  were  fweeter  than 
liberty  :  Thy  yoke  is  eafy,  and  thy 
burden  light.  I  fliall  blefs  the  chain 

that 


VI.  of  the  Heart.  49 

that  binds  me  to  thee.  Oh  !  give  me 
fiich  a  view  of  thy  beauty,  as  fhall  fix 
my  volatile  heart  for  ever  !  fuch  a  view 
as  fhall  determine  all  its  motions,  and 
be  a  conftant  conviction  how  unreafon- 
able  is  it  to  wander  from  thee. 

Is  it  that  I  relifh  any  thing  beyond 
thy  love  ?  Oh  !  no.  I  appeal  even  to 
thee,  who  canft  not  be  deceived,  and 
knoweft  the  inmoft  fecrets  of  my  foul : 
Thou  knoweft  where  the  balance  of  my 
love  falls, and  that  my  wanderings  are  not 
deliberate ;  that  is  not  by  choice  that 
I  forfake  thee.  I  grieve,  I  figh  for  my 
folly  ;  fhouldft  thou  forgive  me,  I  can 
never  forgive  myfelf,  for  I  know  it  is 
inexcufable. 

I  want  nothing  when  I  am  poffeffed 
of  thee ;  without  thee,  I  want  all  things. 
Thou  art  the  centre  of  all  my  paffions ; 
I  have  no  hope  but  what  is  thine,  no 
joy  but  what  flows  from  thee  ;  my 
greateft  fears  are  thefe  of  lofing  thee  ; 
my  inmoft  care  is  to  fecure  thy  favour. 
This  is  the  fubjeft  of  my  deepeft  anx 
iety :  Every  figh  I  breathe,  ends  in  thy 
name  j  and  that  lov'd  name  alone  al- 
E  lays 


50  Devout  Exercifes  VI. 

lays  every  anguifli  of  my  foul ,  and  calms 
its  wildeft  tempeft. 

From  thy  frowns  or  favour  all  my  joys 
orforrows  fpring;  thy  frowns  can  make 
me  infinitely  miferable,  thy  favour  can 
make  me  infinitely  bleffed.  I  can  defy 
hell,  and  fmile  in  the  face  of  death, 
while  I  can  call  thee  mine,  my  God  ! 
Still  letmeblefs  the  found,  and  part  with 
all  things  rather  than  renounce  my  pro 
perty  in  thee  :  Let  me  hold  it  to  my 
laft  breath,  and  claim  it  with  my  ex 
piring  fighs. 

Secure  of  thee,  nothing  can  terrify 
my  foul ;  all  is  peaceful  and  ferene  with 
in,  eternal  love  and  immortal  pleafure  : 
I  defire  no  more ;  imagination  flops 
here,  and  all  my  wifhes  are  loft  in  eter 
nal  plenty. My  God  !  more  can 
not  be  afked,  and  with  lefs  I  fhould 
be  infinitely  miferable.  The  kingdoms 
jof  the  flcies  fhould  not  buy  my  title  to 
thee  and  thy  love :  The  blefTednefs  of 
fill  creatures  is  complete  here,  for  God 
.himfclfis  bleffed  in  himfelf  for  ever. 

What 


VII.  of  the  Heart.  51 

What  can  I  add,  for  all  my  words  are  faint  I 
Celeftial  love  no  eloquence  can  paint. 
No  more  can  be  in  mortal  founds  exprefs'd, 
But  vaft  eternity  (hall  tell  the  reft. 

VII. 

A  Covenant  with  GOD. 


heniible  Being,  who  fearch- 
JLeft  the  heart,  and  trieft  the  reins  of 
the  children  of  men  !  thou  krunveft  my 
fincerity,  and  my  thoughts  are  all  un 
veiled  to  thce ;  I  am  furrounded  with 
thine  immenfity  ;  thou  art  a  prefent, 
tho'  invifible  witnefs  of  the  folemn 
affair  I  am  now  engaged  in.  I  am 
now  taking  hold  of  thy  ftrength,  that 
I  may  make  peace  with  thee,  and  en 
tering  into  articles  with  the  Almighty 
God.  Thefe  are  the  happy  days  long 
fince  predicted,  when  one  fhall  fay  I 
am  the  Lord's,  and  another  fhall  call 
himfelf  by  the  name  of  Ifrael,  and  an 
other  fhall  fubfcribe  with  his  hand  to 
the  Lord  ;  and  I  will  be  their  God, 
and  they  fhall  be  my  fons  and  my 
daughters,  faith  the  Lord  Jehovah, 

With 


5 2  Devout  Exercifes  VIL 

With  the  moft  thankful  fincerity  I 
take  hold  on  this  covenant,  as  it  is 
more  fully  manifefted  and  explained  in 
thy  gofpel  by  Jefus  Chriit  :  and  hum 
bly  accepting  thy  propofals,  I  bind 
myfelf  to  thee  by  a  facred  and  everlaft- 
ing  obligation.  By  a  free  and  deli 
berate  aftion,  I  do  here  ratify  the  ar 
ticles  which  were  made  for  rne  in  my 
bap  trim,  into  the  name  of  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  reli 
gion  fly  devote  myfelf  to  thy  fervice, 
and  entirely  fubmit  to  thy  conduct.  I 
renounce  the  glories  and  vanities  of  the 
world,  andchufe  thee  as  my  happinefs, 
my  fupreme  felicity,  and  everlafting 
portion.  I  make  no  aiticle  with  thee 
for  any  thing  befides  :  Deny  or  give 
me  what  thou  wilt,  I  will  never  repine 
while  my  principal  treafure  is  fecure. 
This  is  my  deliberate,  my  free,  and 
fincere  determination ;  a  determina 
tion,  which,  by  thy  grace,  I  will 
never  retradt. 

Oh  !  thou,  by  whofe  power  alone 
I  fhall  be  able  to  ftanci  !  put  thy  fear 
in  my  heart,  that  I  may  never  depart 

from 


VII.  of  the  Heart.  53 

from  thee  :  Let  not  the  world  with  all 
its  flatteries,  nor  death  nor  hell,  with  all 
their  terrors,  force  me  to  violate  this 
facred  vow.  Oh  !  let  me  never  live  to 
abandon  thee,  nor  draw  the  impious 
breath  that  would  deny  thee. 

And  now  let  furrounding  angels 
witnefs  for  me,  that  I  folemnly  devote 
all  the  powers  and  faculties  of  my  foul 
to  thy  fervice  ;  and  when  I  prefump- 
tuoufly  employ  any  of  the  advantages 
thou  haft  given  me  to  thy  difhonour, 
let  them  teftify  againft  me,  and  let  my 
own  words  condemn  me. 

ELIZABETH  ROWE. 

THUS  have  I  fubfcribed  to  thy  gra 
cious  propofals,  and  engaged  myfelf 
to  be  the  Lord's :  And  now  let  the 
malice  of  men,  and  the  rage  of  devils, 
combine  againft  me,  I  can  defy  all 
their  ftratagems ;  for  God  hirnfelfis 
become  my  Friend,  Jefus  is  my  All- 
fufficient  Saviour,  and  the  Spirit  of 
God,  I  truft,  will  be  my  San&ifier, 
and  Comforter. 

O  happy  day !  tranfporting  moment ' 

the  brightest  period  of  mylife !  Heaven, 

3  E  with 


54  De'vout  Exercifes          VII L 

with  all  its  light,  fmiles  on  thee  :  What 
glorious  mortal  can  now  excite  my 
envy  ?  what  fcene  to  tempt  my  ambi 
tion  could  the  whole  creation  difplay  ? 
Let  glory  call  me  with  her  exalted 
voice  ;  let  pleafure  with  a  fofter  elo 
quence  allure  me ;  the  world,  in  all  its 
fplendour,  appears  but  a  trifle,  while 
the  Infinite  God  is  my  portion.  He 
is  mine  by  as  fure  a  title  as  eternal  ve 
racity  can  confer  :  The  right  is  unque- 
fHonable,  the  conveyance  unalterable. 
The  mountains  ihall  be  removed,  and 
the  hills  be  diiTolved,  before  the  ever- 
lafting  obligation  Ihall  be  cancelled. 

VIII. 

A  Thank-offering  for  faving  grace* 

LESS  the  Lord,  O  my  foul  1  and 
l  that  is  within  me,  blefs  his  holy 
name.  Blefs  the  Lord,  and  forget 
not  all  his  benefits,  who  redeemed  thy 
life  from  deftrucftion,  and  crowneth 
thee  with  loving-kindnefs  and  tender 
mercy ;  who  brought  thee  out  of  the 

mire 


VHL  of  the  Heart.  55 

mire  and  clay,  and  fet  thy  feet  upon  a 
rock  ;  who  broke  thy  fetters ,  and  freed 
thee  from  the  miferahle  bondage  of 
fin.  I  lay,  a  wretched  flave,  pleafed 
with  my  chains,  and  fond  of  my  cap 
tivity,  fatally  deluded  and  undone,  till 
love,  almighty  love,  refcued  me.  Bleft 
effed:  of  unmerited  grace  !  I  fhall  Hand 
for  ever  an  illuftrious  inftance  of bound- 
lefs  mercy:  To  that  I  mufl  entirely 
afcribe  rny  falvation  ;  and  through  all 
the  ages  of  eternity,  I'll  rehearfe  the 
wonders  of  redeeming  love,  and  tell  to 
liftening  angels  what  it  has  done  for 
my  foul. 

Fll  fmg  the  endlefs  miracles  of  love  ; 
For  ever  that  my  lofty  theme  fhall  prove. 

My  glorious  Creator  !  why  did  I 
employ  thy  thoughts  before  I  had  a  be 
ing  ?  Why  from  all  eternity  was  an 
immortality  defigned  me,  and  my 
birth  allotted  me  in  a  land  illuminated 
with  the  rays  of  facred  light.  I  might 
have  been  invoking  the  powers  of  hell 
writh  deteftable  ceremonies,  inftead  of 
adoring  the  Omnipotent  God.  'But 

when 


56  Devout  Exercifes  VIII. 

when  thoufands  are  loft  in  thefe  delu- 
flons,  why  am  I  thus  gracioufly  dif- 
tinguifhed  ?  Inftead  of  being  born 
among  the  fhameful  vices  of  impious 
parents,  and  an  heir  to  their  curfes, 
why  am  I  intitled  to  the  bleffing  of 
religious  anceftors?  Why,  when  I 
was  incapable  of  choice,  was  I  devoted 
to  the  God  that  keeps  covenant  and 
mercy  toathoufand  generations  ofthem 
that  fear  him. 

Why,  when  I  knew  thee  not,  didft 
thou  fuftain  me  ?  But,  Oh  !  why, 
when  I  knew  thee,  and  rebelled  againft 
thee,  why  didft  thoufo  long  fuffer  my 
ingratitude?  Why  did  thy  watchful 
providence  perpetually  furround  me, 
crofting  all  the  methods  I  took  to  undo 
myfelf  ?  Why  was  I  not  curft  with  rny 
own  wiihes,  and  left  to  the  quiet  pof- 
feftion  of  thofe  vanities  I  delighted  in, 
thofe  toys  which  I  foolifhly  preferred 
to  all  the  treafures  of  thy  love  ?  Why 
didft  thou  purfue  me  with  the  offers  of 
tjiy  favour,  when  I  fled  thee  with  fuch 
averfion  ?  and  had  fled  thee  for  ever, 
if  ttiou  hadft  not  compelled  me  to 
return. 

Why 


VIII.  of  the  Heart.  57 

Why  did  thy  Spirit  ftrive  fo  long 
with  an  obftinate  heart,  which  refifted 
all  its  motions,  and  turned  thy  patience 
and  long-fuffering  into  provocation  and 
guilt  ?  Why  am  1  not  undone  by  thofe 
pleating  fnares  in  which  I  have  feen 
fo  many  deluded  wretches  perifh  ?  Like 
them,  Idefpifed  the  unfearchable  riches 
of  thy  grace  ;  with  them  I  had  been 
content  to  fhare  the  forry  portion  and 
pleafures  of  this  world,  if  thou  had'ft 
let  me  alone,  and  I  fhould  never  have 
enquired  after  thee;  but  why  waft  thou 
found  of  one  that  fought  thee  not  ?  O 
why,  but  becaufe  thou  wilt  be  merci 
ful  to  whom  thou  wilt  be  merciful. 

Therefore,  again,  withaftonifhment 
and  delight,  I  look  back  on  the  me 
thods  of  thy  grace;  and  again  Iconfider 
myfelf  loft  in  an  abyfs  of  fin  arid  mi- 
fery ;  when  there  was  no  eye  to  pity 
me,  no  hand  but  thine  to  affiftme,  thou 
madeft  it  then  the  time  of  love.  Never 
was  grace  more  free  and  furpriling 
than  thine  is ;  never  was  there  a  more 
obftinate  heart  than  mine  ;  and  never 

fuch 


58  Devout  Exercifes  V11L 

fuch  unconquerable  love  as  thine.  How 
glorioufly  has  it  triumphed  over  my 
rebellious  faculties?  How  freely  has  it 
cancell'd  all  my  guilt  ? 

Could  1  have  made  the  leaft  pretence 
to  merit,  or  have  challenged  any  thing 
from  thee,  the  benefit  had  been  lefs 
exalted  ;  had  there  been  any  foundation 
for  human  pride,  my  corrupt  heart 
would  foon  have  taken  the  advantage, 
and  have  robbed  thee  of  thy  honour, 
by  afcribing  the  glorious  work  to  the 
ftrength  of  my  own  reafon,  or  a  natural 
tendency  to  virtue.  But  here  my  vanity 
is  for  ever  filenced,  I  am  loft  in  the 
boundlefs  abyfs.  O  height !  O  depth ! 
O  length  and  breadth  immeafureable  ! 
How  unfearchable  are  thy  ways,  Al 
mighty  Love,  and  thy  paths  paft  find 
ing  out? 

Let  me  here  begin  rny  eternal  fong, 
and  afcribe  falvation  and  honour,  do 
minion  and  majefty,  to  him  that  fits  on 
the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb  for  ever, 
who  has  loved  me,  and  ranfomed  me 
with  his  blood  j  ranfomed  me  from  a 
voluntary  bondage,  from  the  moft  vile 

and 


VIIL  of  the  Heart.  59 

andhopelefs  captivity,  a  captivity  from 
which  nothing  but  that  invaluable  pur- 
chafe  could  have  redeemed  me. 

"  Infinite  love  !  almighty  grace  ! 
"  Stand  in  amaze,  ye  rolling  Ikies." 

Bring  hither  your  celeftial  harps,  ye 
beneficent  beings,  who,  amidit  the 
height  of  your  happinefs,  exprefs  a 
kind  regard  for  man  :  Teach  me  the 
language  of  paradife,  the  ftrains  of  im 
mortality.  But,  Oh  !  it  is  all  to  feeble  ; 
the  tongues  of  feraphims  cannot  utter 
what  1  owe  my  Redeemer :  From  what 
mifery,  my  adorable  Saviour,  haftthou 
refcued  me  ?  From  error,  from  fin,  from 
fnares ,  from  death ,  from  infernal  chains , 
eternal  horror,  and  the  blacknefs  of 
darknefs  for  ever. 

Nor  here  rny  glorious  Benefactor 
flayed ;  but  ftill  went  on  to  magnify 
the  riches  of  his  grace,  and  entitled  me 
to  an  endlefs  inheritance,  and  an  im 
mortal  crown;  to  the  fruition  of  God, 
and  the  unutterable  joys  that  flow  from 
his  prefence, 

My- 


60  Devout  Exercifes  IX. 

Myfterious  depths  of  boundlefs  love 

Hy  admiration  raife : 
O  God  !  thy  name  exalted  ftands 

Above  my  higheft  p raife. 

IX. 

Evidence  of  Jin  cere  love  to  GOD. 

IF  I  love  thee  not,  my  bleffed  God, 
I  know  not  what  I  love  ;  If  1  am 
uncertain  of  this,  I  am  uncertain  of  my 
exigence.  If  I  love  thee  not,  what  is 
the  meaning  of  thefe  pathetic  expref- 
fions,  MY  GOD!  MY  ALL!  thou 
fpring  of  my  life,  and  fountain  of  my 
happinefs  !  my  great  reward,  and  my 
exceeding  joy  !  the  eternal  obje6t  of  my 
love,  and  fupreme  felicity  of  my  na 
ture  !  Does  not  my  heart  attend  my  lips 
in  all  this  language  ?  How  can  this 
be,  if  my  foul  does  not  love  thee? 

O  rny  God  !  if  I  love  thee  not,  what 
is  the  meaning  of  this  conftant  uneafi- 
nefs  at  thy  abfence?  From  whence  pro 
ceeds  this  painful  anxiety  of  mind  a- 
bout  thy  love,  and  all  thefe  intenfe, 
thefe  reftlefs  defires  after  thee?  Why 

are 


IX.  of  the  Heart.  61 

are  all  the  fatisfa&ions  of  life  iniipid 
without  thee  ?  Without  my  God,  what 
are  riches,  and  honours,  and  pleafures, 
to  me  ?  I  llaould  efteem  the  poffeffion  of 
the  world  but  a  trifle,  or  rather  my  e- 
ternal  damage,  if  it  muft  be  purchafed 
with  the  lofs  of  thy  favour.  Thy  be 
nignity  is  better  than  life  ;  and  the  mo 
ments  in  which  I  enjoy  a  fenfe  of  thy 
love,  are  the  only  happy  intervals  of 
my  life.  It  is  then  Hive;  it  is  then  I 
am  truly  blefs'd  :  It  is  then  I  look  down 
with  contempt  on  the  little  amufements 
of  the  world,  and  pity  them  that  want 
afafte  for  thefe  exalted  pleafures. 

How  calm,  how  peaceful  in  thofe 
feafons  are  all  the  regions  of  my  foul ! 
I  have  enough;  I  aik  no  more.  Can 
they  languiili  for  the  ftream,  who 
drink  at  the  overflowing  fountain  ? 
I  have  all  the  world,  and  more,  I 
have  heaven  itfelf  in  thee ;  in  thee  I  am 
completely  and  fecurely  bleffed,  and 
can  defy  the  malice  of  earth  and  hell  to 
ftiake  the  foundation  of  my  happinefs, 
while  thou  dofl  whifper  thy  love  to  my 
foul.  O  bleffed  (lability  of  heart;  O 
F  fublime 


6  2  Devout  Exercifes  1 X . 

fublime  fatisfadtion  !  Haft  thou  not 
told  me  that  thou  art  mine  by  an  in 
violable  engagement,  when  my  foul 
devoted  itfelf  fincerely  to  thee  ?  Does 
not  thy  word  affure  -me,  that  the  moun 
tains  fhall  depart,  and  the  hills  be 
removed  ;  but  thy  kindnefs  {hall  not 
depart,  nor  the  covenant  of  thy  peace  be 
broken  ? 

Haft  thou  not  terminated  my  w?ifhes, 

0  Lord,  in  thyfelf  and  fixed  my  wan 
dering  defires  ?    Is  it  for  riches  or  ho 
nour,  for  length  of  days,  orpleafure,that 

1  follow  thee  with  daily  importunities  ? 
Thou  knoweit  thefe  are  not  the  fubjed: 
of  my  reftlefs  petitions.   Do  I  ever  ba 
lance  thefe  toys  with  thy  favour  ?  Oh, 
no.     One  fmile  of  thine  obfcures  all 
their  glory.    When  thou  doft  blefs  my 
retired  devotions  with  thy  prefence,   I 
can  wrink  all  created  beauty  into  black- 
nefs.     When  I  meet  thee  in  my  foli- 
tary  contemplations,  with  what  con 
tempt  do  I  look  back  on  the  leflening 
world  ? 

How  dazzling  is  thy  beauty  !  how  divine ! 
How  dim  the  Iniler  of  the  world  to  thine  ! 

How 


IX.  of  the  Heart.  63 

How  dull  are  its  entertainments  to 
the  pleafure  of  converfion  with  thee  ? 
Oh  Hay,  in  thofe  happy  moments, 
cries  my  fatisfied  foul  ! 

Stay,  my  beloved,  with  me  here ; 
Stay  till  the  morning-ftar  appear  \ 
Stay  till  the  duiky  fhadows  fly 
Before  the  day's  illuflrious  eye. 

Oh  !  ftay  till  the  gloomy  night  of 
life  is  paft,  and  eternity  dawn  on  my 
foul.  There's  nothing  in  this  barren 
place  to  entertain  me  when  thou  art 
gone  :  I  can  relifh  nothing  belo\v,  after 
thefe  celeftial  banquets. 

Jf  I  love  thee  not,  what's  the  mean 
ing  of  this  impatience  to  be  with  thee? 
My  foul  longeth,  yea  fainteth,  for 
the  courts  of  the  Lord  ;  when  (hall  I 
come  and  appear  before  thee  ?  Oh  ! 
that  I  had  the  wings  of  a  dove,  for 
then  would  I  flyaway,  and  be  at  reft. 


X. 


64  Devout  Exercifes  X. 

X. 
Affu ranee  affahation  //?  C  H  R  I  s  T  J  E  s  u  s . 

T  Have  put  my  treafures,  my  immor 
tal  part,  into  thy  hands,  Oh  my 
dear  Redeemer  !  And  fhall  the  prey 
be  taken  from  the  mighty  ?  Shall  a 
foul  confecrated  to  thee,  fall  afacrifice 
to  hell? 

BlefTcd  God  !  am  I  not  thine?  and 
(hall  the  temple  of  thy  fpirit  be  pro 
faned,  and  the  lips  that  have  fo  often 
afcribed  dominion,  and  glory,  andma- 
jefly  to  thee, be  defiled  with  infernal blaf- 
phemy,  and  the  execrations  of  the 
damn'd  ?  Shall  the  fparks  of  divine  love 
beextinguifhed,  and  immortal  enmity 
fucceed  ?  And  fhall  I,  who  was  once 
bleffed  with  thy  favour,  become  the 
obje<5t  of  thy  wrath  and  indignation  ? 
Shall  all  the  mighty  things  thou  haft 
done  for  my  foul,  be  forgotten  ?  Shall  all 
my  vows,  and  thy  own  facred  engage 
ments,  be  cancelled  ?  *Tis  all  impof- 
fible;  for  thou  art  not  as  man,  that 
thou  fhouldil  lie;  nor  as  the  fon  of 
man,  that  thou  fliouldfl  repent. 

Thou 


X.  of  the  Heart.  65 

Thou  art  engaged  by  thy  own  tre 
mendous  name  for  my  fecurity  :  my 
God,  and  my  father's  God  ;  from  ge 
neration  to  generation  thou  haft  been 
our  dwelling-place.  I  was  devoted  to 
thee  in  baptifm,  by  the  folemn  VOWTS 
of  my  religious  parents :  My  infant 
hands  were  early  lifted  up  to  thee, 
and  I  foon  learned  to  know  and  ac 
knowledge  the  God  of  my  fathers.  I 
have  actually  fubfcribed  with  my  hand 
to  the  Lord,  and  am  thine  by  the 
moft  voluntary  and  deliberate  obliga 
tions.  The  portion  of  Jacob  is  my 
joyful  choice;  nor  need  I  fear  lofing 
it,  while  thy  wrord  is  eftablifhed  as  the 
heavens. 

The  Lord,  who  made  heaven,  earth  and  fea, 

And  all  that  they  contain, 
Will  never  quit  his  ftedfafl  truth, 

Nor  make  his  promife  vain. 

Were  my  dependence  on  myfelf,   I 

were  undone  :     The  firft   temptation 

would  iliake  my  refolutions  ;  I  fhould 

fell  the  ineftimable  riches  of  thy  love 

F  3  for 


66  Devout  Exerctfes  X. 

for  a  trifle,  and  fool  away  immortal 
pleafures  for  the  joys  of  a  moment;  a 
fpecious  delufion  would  feduce  me  from 
all  my  hopes  of  a  glorious  futurity.  I 
lliall  fall  a  vi£Hrn  to  my  own  folly, 
and  muft  inevitably  perifh,  if  thou 
forfake  me  :  But  the  ftrength  of  Ifrael 
is  my  hope,  the  Mighty  One  of  Jacob 
my  defence. 

Thou  art  the  rock  of  ages  ;  the  fixed 
and  immutable  Divinity  is  my  high 
tower  and  my  refuge,  my  Redeemer 
and  Almighty  Saviour.  Thefe  were 
the  bleffed ,  the  glorious  titles  by  which 
thou  did  ft  at  firft  allure  my  doubtful 
foul  :  Thefe  were  the  tranfporting 
names  I  knewr  and  called  thee  by;  and 
thou  haft  anfwered  them  through  all 
the  changes  of  my  life. 

I  was  thy  early  care ;  thou  didft 
fupport  my  helplefs  infancy,  and  art 
the  watchful  guide  of  my  unfteady 
youth.  Whkh  way  foever  I  turn,  I 
meet  thy  mercy,  and  trace  thy  provi 
dence;  and,  as  long  as  I  live,  I  will 
record  thy  benefits,  and  depend  on 
thy  truth;  thofe  benefits  which  have 

conftantly 


X.  of  the  Heart.  67 

conftantly  purfued  me,  and  that  truth 
which  has  never  deceived  me,  and  is 
engaged  never  to  abandon  me.  Tranf- 
portingaiTurance  !  What  further  fecuri- 
ty  can  I  aik?  What  fecurity  can  1 
wiih  beyond  eternal  veracity?  The 
mountains  ihall  depart,  and  the  hills 
be  removed  :  but  thy  kindnefs  fhall 
not  depart,  nor  the  covenant  of  thy 
peace  be  broken;  that  covenant  which 
has  been  fealed  by  the  blood  of  the 
Son  of  God;  and  in  that  holy  facrament 
I  have  received  the  pledges  of  thy  love. 
Thou  didft  graciouily  invite  me  into 
that  communion,  and  met  me  there 
with  the  moil  unmerited  favour. 

Fear  not,  fay 'ft  thou,  poor  trem 
bling  foul !  for  I  am  thy  Redeemer,  and 
thy  mighty  Saviour,  the  hope  of  Ifrael, 
and  in  my  name  ihall  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth  be  blefled.  I  am  gracious 
and  merciful,  long-fuffering,  and  a- 
bundant  in  goodnefs  and  truth.  Thefe 
are  the  titles  by  which  I  have  revealed 
myfelftomen.  I  came  the  expected 
Meffiah,  the  Star  of  Jacob,  and  the 
glory  of  the  Gentiles.  I  came  from 

the 


68  Devout    Exernjes  X. 

the  fulnefs  of  ineffable  glory,  in  the 
form  of  man,  to  redeem  the  race  of 
Adam  :  I  am  willing  and  able  to  fave; 
and  "  whofoever  comes  to  me>  I  will 
in  no  \vife  caft  away/'  Fear  not:  I 
had  kind  defigns  towards  thee  from 
eternity;  and  by  thefe  vifible  figns  of 
my  body  and  blood,  I  feal  my  love  to 
thy  foul :  Take  here  the  pledges  of 
heaven,  the  affurance  of  everlafting 
happinefs. 

'Tis  enough,  replied  my  tranfported 
foul  :  divide  the  world  as  thouwilt,  let 
others  unenvied  fhare  its  glory;  thy 
love  is  all  I  crave.  I  am  bleffed  with 
that  affurance,  I  am  furrounded  \vith 
the  joys  of  paradife ;  every  place  is  a 
heaven,  while  my  Beloved  is  mine, 
and  I  am  his. 

If  all  the  monarchs,  whofe  command  fupreme 
Divides  the  wide  dominion  of  this  ball, 

Should  offer  each  his  boafted  diadem, 
I  would  not  quit  thy  favour  for  them  all : 

Thefe  trifles  with  contempt  I  would  refign^ 

The  world's  a  toy,  while  I  can  call  thee  mine. 

Let  God  and  angels  witnefs  for  me, 
that  I  renounce  the  world,  and  chufethy 

love 


XI.  of  the  Heart.  69 

love  as  my  portion;  witnefs  that  I  fa- 
crifice  my  darling  fins  to  thee ,  and ,  from 
this  moment,  folemnly  devote  myfelf 
to  thy  fervice. 

Thus  did  I  engage  myfelf  to  be  the 
Lord's;  and  thus  didft  thou  gracioufly 
condefcend  to  feal  the  privileges  of  the 
new  covenant  to  my  fouL  And  O,  let 
the  folemn  tranfadion  never  be  forgot 
ten  ;  let  it  be  writ  in  the  volumes  of 
eternity  ;  let  it  be  engraven  in  the  books 
of  unalterable  deffiny:  There  let  the 
facred  articles  ftand  recorded,  and  be 
had  in  everlafting  remembrance. 

XL 

Thou  art  my  GOD. 

OGOD  !  thou  art  my  God  ;  thou 
art  thy  own  bleffednefs,  the  centre 
of  thy  own  defires,  and  the  boundlefs 
fpring  of  thy  own  happinefs.  Thou  art 
immutable  and  infinitely  perfedt,  and 
therein  confifts  thy  bleflednefs  and  glo 
ry  ;  but  that  thou  art  my  God,  it  is  from 
thence  flows  all  my  confolation ;  this 
glorious  privilege  is  my  dignity  and 

boafL 


7  o  Devout  Exet  'djes  X  [ . 

boaft.  "  Thou  art  my  God,  and  I  will 
praife  thee ;  my  father's  God,  and  I  will 
exalt  thee.  The  Lord  liveth,  and  bleff- 
ed  be  my  Rock,  and  let  the  God  of 
my  falvation  be  exalted.  Thy  be 
nignity  is  better  than  life,  therefore 
my  lips  fhall  praife  thee." 

I  have  all  things  in  poffeffing  thee  ;  I 
find  no  want,  no  emptinefs,  within; 
my  wifhes  are  anfvvered,  and  all  my 
defires  appeafed,  when  I  believe  my 
title  to  thy  favour  fecure.  Whatever 
tempefts  arife,  whatever  darknefs  fur- 
rounds  me,  yet  thou  art  my  God ;  I  cry, 
and  the  ftorms  are  appeafed,  and  the 
darknefs  vanifhes.  I  find  my  expec 
tations  from  the  world  difappointed, 
my  friends  falfe,  and  human  dependence 
vain  ;  but  fhll  thou  art  my  God,  my 
unfailingconfidence,my  rock,  my  ever- 
Jafting  inheritance.  Death  and  hell  le 
vel  their  darts  againft  me  j  but  with  a 
heavenly  tranquillity  I  cry,"  Thou  art 
my  God  :  I  dwell  on  high,  my  place 
of  defence  is  the  munition  of  rocks/' 


IX.  of  the  Heart.  71 

MY  hiding-place,  my  refuge,  tow'r, 

And  fhield  art  thou,  O  Lord  ! 
I  firmly  anchor  all  my  hopes 

On  thy  unerring  word. 

while  thou  art  mine,  what  can  I 
fear  ?  Can  Omnipotence  be  vanquiih- 
ed  ?  Can  almighty  ftrength  be  oppofed  ? 
When  it  can,  then,  and  not  till  then, 
{hall  I  want  fecurity ;  then,  and  not  till 
then,  fhall  my  confidence  be  fhaken, 
and  my  hopes  confounded. 

Thou  art  my  God :  Let  me  again  re 
peat  the  glorious  accents,  and  hear  the 
pleafureable  founds.  Let  me  a  thou- 
fand  and  a  thoufand  times  repeat  it ; 
it  is  rapture  all,  and  harmony:  The 
harps  of  angels  and  their  tongues,  what 
notes  more  melodious  could  they  fing 
or  play  ?  What  but  thefe  tranfporting 
words  give  the  ernphafis  to  all  their 
joys  ?  On  this  they  dwell  ;  it  is 
their  eternal  theme,  Thou  art  my  God. 
Like  me,  every  feraph  boafts  the  glo 
rious  propriety,  and  owes  hishappinefs 
to  thofe  important  words :  In  them  un 
bounded  joys  are  comprehended;  par- 
adife  itfelf,  all  heaven  is  here  defcribed  ; 

all 


72  Devout  Extrcifes  XL 

all  that  is  poffible  to  be  uttered  of  ce- 
leffial  bleffednefs,  is  here  contained. 

My  God  my  all  fufficient  good, 
My  portion,  and  my  choice  ! 

In  thee  my  vaft  defires  are  fill'd, 
And  all  my  powers  rejoice. 

My  God,  my  triumph,  and  my  glo 
ry  !  Let  others  boaft  of  what  they  will, 
and  pride  themfelves  in  human  fecu- 
rities ;  let  them  place  their  confidence 
in  their  wealth  :  their  honour,  and  their 
numerous  friends :  I  renounce  all  earth 
ly  dependence,  and  glory  only  in  my 
God. 

From  him  alone  my  joys  fhall  rife, 

And  run  eternal  rounds, 
Beyond  the  limits  of  the  ikies, 

And  all  created  bounds. 

When  death  fhall  remove  all  other 
fupports,  and  force  me  to  quit  my  ti 
tle  to  the  deareft  names  below,  in  my 
God  I  fhall  have  an  unchangeable  pro 
perty  :  That  engagement  fhall  remain 
firm,  when  I  fhall  lofe  my  hold  of  all 
other  enjoyments ;  when  all  human 
things  vunifh  with  an  everlafling  flight, 


XL  of  the  Heart.  73 

I  (hall  bid  them  a  joyful  adieu,  and 
breathe  out  my  foul  with  this  trium 
phant  exclamation,  Thou  art  my  God, 
my  inheritance,  my  eternal  poffeffion: 
Nor  death,  nor  hell,  fhall  ever  feparate 
me  from  thy  love. 

Thou  art  my  God.  Let  me  furvey  the 
extent  of  my  bleffednefs  :  Let  me  take 
a  profpect  of  my  vaft  poireffion  :  Let 
meconfideritsdimenfions:  O depth!  O 
height !  O  length  and  breadth  immea- 
furable  !  I  have  all  that  is  worth  poffef- 
fing ;  Thou  art  my  God. 

But  what  have  I  uttered  ?  Is  mor 
tality  permitted  to  fpeak  thefe  daring 
words  ?  Can  the  race  of  man  make  fuch 
glorious  pretenfions  ?  Thou  thyfelf 
canft  give  no  more  :  Thou  that  art  thy 
own  happinefs,  and  the  fpring  of  joy 
to  all  thy  creatures;  with  thee  are  the 
fountains  of  pleafure,  and  in  thy  pre- 
fence  is  fulnefs  of  joy  :  Immortal  life 
and  happinefs  flow  from  thee,  and  they 
are  neceflarily  blefled  who  are  furroun- 
ded  with  thy  favour  ;  thou  art  their 
God,  and  thou  art  my  God,  to  ever- 
lafting  ages. 

G  Earth 


74  Dewut  Exercifes  XII. 

Earth  flies  with  all  the  charms  it  has  in  ftore, 
Its  fnares  and  gay  temptations  are  no  more. 
Creatures  no  more  of  entity  can  boaft. 
The  breams,  the  hills,    and  tow'ring  groves  are 

loft. 

The  fun,  the  ftars,  and  the  fair  fields  of  light 
Withdraw,  and  now  are  vanifh'd  from  my  fight \ 
And  God  is  all  in  all. 

XII. 

Confeffion  of  Sin,  with  Hope  of  Pardon. 

[ REAR,  break,  infenfible  heart ! 
Letconfufion  cover  me,  and  dark- 
nefs,  black  as  my  own  guilt,-  furround 
me.  Lord!  what  a  monfter  am  I  be 
come  ?  How  hateful  to  myfelf  for  of 
fending  thee  ?  How  much  more  deteft- 
able  to  thee,  to  thee  againft  whom  I 
have  .offended  ?  Why  have  I  provoked 
the  God  on  whom  my  being  every  mo 
ment  depends  ?  the  God,  who  out  of 
nothing  advanced  me  to  a  reafonable 
and  immortal  nature,  and  put  me  in  a 
capacity  of  being  happy  for  ever:  the 
God  whofe  goodnefs  has  run  parallel 
with  my  life ;  who  has  preferved  me  in 
athoufand  dangers, 'and  kept  me  even 

from 


XII.  of  the  Heart.  75 

from  the  ruin  I  courted,  and  even  while 
I  repined  at  the  providence  that  faved 
me. 

How  often  has  he  recovered  me  from 
eternal  mifecy,  and  brought  me  back 
from  the  very  borders  of  hell,  when 
there  was  but  a  dying  groan,  but  one 
faint  figh  between  me  and  everlafting 
perdition  ?  When  all  human  help  fail 
ed,  and  my  mournful  friends  were  tak 
ing  their  laft  farewel ;  when  every  fmi~ 
ling  hope  forfook  me,  and  the  horrors 
of  death  furrounded  me  ;  to  God  I  cry- 
ed  from  the  depths  of  mifery  and  de~ 
fpair,  I  cried,  and  he  was  entreated, 
and  refcued  my  life  from  definition : 
He  brought  me  out  of  the  miry  clay, 
and  fet  rny  feet  upon  a  rock.  A  thou- 
fand  inftances  of  thy  goodnefs  could  I 
recount,  and  all  to  my  own  confufion. 
Could  I  coniider  thee  as  my  enemy,  I 
might  forgive  myfelf  \  but  when  I  con 
iider  thee  as  rny  be  ft  friend,  my  tender 
father,  the  fuftainer  of  my  life,  and 
the  author  of  my  happinefs,  Good 
God  !  what  a  monfhrous  thing  do  I  ap 
pear,  who  have  finned  againft  thee  ? 

Could 


7  6  Devout  Exerctfes  X I L 

Could  I  charge  thee  with  feverity,  or 
call  thy  laws  rigorous  and  unjuft,  I  had 
fome  excufe;  but  lamfilencedthere  by 
the  convicftion  of  my  own  rcafon ,  which 
affents  to  all  thy  precepts  as  juftand  holy. 
But  to  heighten  my  guilt,  I  have  vio 
lated  the  facred  rules  I  approve  :  I  have 
provoked  the  juftice  I  fear,  and  offended 
the  purity  I  adore. 

Yet  ftill  there  are  higher  aggravati 
ons  of  my  iniquity  ;  and  what  gives  rne 
t-he  iitmoft  confufion,  is,  that  I  have 
iinned  againft  unbounded  love  and 
goodnefs.  Horrid  ingratitude  !  Here 
lies  fheemphafis  of  my  folly  and  mife- 
ry  j  the  fenfe  of  this  torments  me,  can 
1  not  fay,  as  much  as  the  dread  of  hell, 
or  the  fears  of  lofing  heaven  ?  Thy  love 
and  tender  compaffion,  the  late  plea- 
ling  fubjefts  of  my  thoughts,  are  on 
this  account  become  my  terror.  The 
titles  of  an  enemy  and  a  judge,  fcarce 
found  more  painful  to  my  ears,  than 
thofe  of  a  friend  and  a  benefactor, 
which  fo  fhamefully  enhance  my  guilt : 
Thofe  facred  names  confound  and  ter 
rify  my  foul,  becaufe  they  furnifh  my 

conference 


XII.  of  the  Heart.  77 

conference  with  the  moft  exquifite  re 
proaches  :  The  thoughts  of  fuch  good- 
nefs  abufed,and  fuch  clemency  affront 
ed,  feem  tome  almoft  as  unfupportable, 
as  thofe  of  thy  wrath  and  feverity. 

O  !  whither  fhall  I  turn  ?  I  dare  not 
look  upward;  the  fun  and  ftars  up 
braid  me  there :  If  I  look  downward, 
the  fields  and  fountains  take  their  Crea 
tor's  part,  and  heaven  and  earth  con- 
fpire  to  aggravate  my  fins :  Thofe 
common  bleffings  tell  me  how  much  I 
am  indebted  to  thy  bounty :  But,  Lord  ! 
when  I  recall  thy  particular  favours, 
I  am  utterly  confounded  ;  what  num 
erous  inftances  could  I  recount  ?  Nor 
has  my  rebellion  yet  fhut  up  the  foun*- 
tain  of  thy  grace ;  for  yet  I  breathe, 
and  yet  I  live,  and  live  to  implore  a 
pardon  :  Heaven  is  ftill  open,  and  the 
throne  of  God  acceffible;  but,  Oh! 
with  what  confidence  can  I  approach 
it  ?  what  motives  can  I  urge,  but  fuch 
as  carry  my  own  condemnation  in 
them  ? 

Shall  I  urge  thy  former  pity  and  in 
dulgence  ?  This  were  to  plead  againft 
G  2  myfelf: 


78  Devout  Exercifes  XI L 

myfelf:  and  yet  thy  clemency,  that 
clemency  which  I  have  abufed,  is  the 
beft  argument  I  can  bring  :  thy  grace 
and  clemency  as  revealed  in  Jefus, 
the  Son  of  thy  love,  the  bleffed  recon 
ciler  of  God  and  man. 

O  whither  has  my  folly  reduced  me  ? 
With  what  words  lliall  I  chufe  to 
addrefs  thee  ?  pardon  my  iniquity,  O 
Lord  !  for  it  is  great.  Surprifing  ar 
gument  !  yet  this  will  magnify  thy 
goodnefs,  and  yield  me  an  eternal 
theme  to  praife  thee:  It  will  add  an 
emphaiis  to  all  my  grateful  fongs,  and 
tune  my  harp  to  everlafting  harmony. 
The  ranfomed  of  the  Lord  lhall  join 
with  me,  while  this  glorious  inftance 
of  thy  grace  excites  their  wonder,  and 
unbounded  gratitude  :  Thus  fhall  thy 
glory  be  exalted. 

O  Lord  God  !  permit  a  poor  worth- 
lefs  creature  to  plead  a  little  with 
thee  :  What  honour  will  my  deflruc- 
tion  bring  thee?  What  profit,  what 
triumph  to  the  Almighty,  will  my 
perdition  be  ?  Mercy  is  thy  brightest 
attribute;  this  gives  thee  all  thy  love- 

linefs 


XII.  of  the  Heart.  79 

linefs,  and  completes  thy  beauty. 
By  names  of  kindnefs  and  indulgence 
thou  haft  chofen  to  reveal  thyfelf  to 
men  :  By  titles  of  the  moft  tender  im 
port,  thou  haft  made  thyfelf  known 
to  my  foul ;  titles  which  thou  doft  not 
yetdifdain,  but  art  ftill  compaffionate, 
and  ready  to  pardon. 

But  that  thou  haft  or  wilt  forgive 
me,  O  my  God  !  aggravates  my  guilt. 
And  wilt  thou  indeed  forgive  me? 
Wilt  thou  remit  the  gloomy  fcore, 
andreftore  the  privilege  I  have  forfeit 
ed  ?  Wondrous  love,  aftonifhing  be 
nignity  !  Let  me  never  live  to  repeat 
my  ingratitude;  let  me  never  live  to 
break  my  penitent  vows  j  let  rne  die 
ere  that  unhappy  moment  arrive. 

XIII. 

The  Abfcnce  of  GOD  on  Earth* 

WHAT  is  hell  !  what  is  damna 
tion,  but  an  excluiion  from  thy 
prefence  ?  It  is  the  want  of  that 
which  gives  the  regions  ofdarknefs  all 
their  horror.  What  is  heaven  ?  what 
ire  the -fatisf actions  of  angels,  but  the 

views 


So  Devout  Exercifes          XI II. 

views  of  thy  glory  ?  What  but  thy 
fmjles  and  complacence,  are  thefprings 
of  their  immortal  tranfports  ? 

Without  the  light  of  thy  counten 
ance,  what  privilege  is  my  being  ? 
What  canft  thou  thyfelf  give  me  to 
countervail  the  infinite  lofs  ?  Could  the 
riches,  the  empty  glories,  and  infipid 
pleafures  of  the  world,  recompence  me 
for  it  ?  Ah  !  no ;  Not  all  the  variety  of 
the  creation  could  fatisfy  me,  while  I 
am  deprived  of  thee.  Let  the  ambiti 
ous,  the  licentious,  and  covetous ^fliare 
thefe  trifles  among  themfelves  ;  they 
are  no  amufements  for  my  dejected 
thoughts. 

There  was  a  time  (but,  ah  !  that 
happy  time  is  part,  thofe  blifsful  mi 
nutes  gone)  when,  with  a  rnodeft  affur- 
ance,  I  could  call  thee  my  Father,  my 
almighty  Friend,  my  defence,  my 
hope  and  my  exceeding  great  reward  : 
But  thofe  glorious  advantages  are  loft  ; 
thofe  raviiliing  profpeits  withdrawn, 
and  to  my  trembling  foul  thou  doit  no 
more  appear,  but  as  a  confirming  fire, 
an  inacceilible  majefty ,  my  feverej  udge,. 

and 


XIIL  of  the  Hear l.  81 

and  my  omnipotent  adverfary  j  and  who 
fhall  deliver  me  out  of  thy  hands  ? 
Where  fhall  1  find  a  fhelter  from  thy 
wrath  ?  What  fhades  can  cover  me 
from  thy  all-feeing  eye  ? 

One  glance  from  thee,  one  piercing  ray. 

Would  kindle  darknefs  into  day  : 

The  veil  of  night  is  no  difguife,. 

No  fcreea  from  thy  all-fearching  eyes  : 

Thro'  midnight-fhades  thou  findft  thy  way. 

As  in  the  blazing  noon  of  day. 

But  will  the  Lord  caft  off  for  ever  ? 
Will  he  be  favourable  no  more  ?  Has 
God  indeed  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ? 
Will  he  fhut  out  my  prayer  for  ever, 
and  muft  I  never  behold  my  Maker? 
Muft  I  never  meet  thofe  fmiles  that 
fill  the  heavenly  inhabitants  with  un 
utterable  joys  ?  thofe  fmiles  that  en 
lighten  the  celeftial  region,  and  make 
everlafting  day  above.  In  vain  then 
have  thefe  wretched  eyes  beheld  the 
light;  in  vain  am  I  endued  with  rea- 
fonable  faculties  and  immortal  princi 
ples  :  Alas  !  what  wrill  they  prove  but 
everlafting  curfes,  if  I  muft  never  fee 
the  face  of  God  ? 


8i  Devout  Exercifes          XI I L 

Is  it  a  dream?  or  do  I  hear 
The  voice  that  fo  delights  my  ear  ? 
Lo,  he  o're  hills  his  fleps  extends, 
And  bounding  from  the  cliffs  defceads: 
Now  like  a  roe  outftrips  the  wind, 
And  leaves  the  panting  hart  behind. 

I  have  waited  for  thee  as  they  that 
wait  for  the  morning,  arid  thy  returns 
are  more  welcome  than  the  Springing 
day-light,  after  the  horrors  of  a  mel 
ancholy  night;  more  welcome  than 
eafe  to  the  fick,  than  water  to  the  thirf- 
ty,  or  reft  to  the  wreary  traveller.  How 
undone  was  I  without  thee  ?  In  vain, 
while  thou  wert  abfent,  the  world  hath 
tried  to  entertain  me :  All  it  could  of 
fer,  was  like  jefts  to  dying  men,  or 
like  recreation  to  the  damned .  On  thy 
favour  alone  my  tranquillity  depends  ; 
deprived  of  that,  I  fhould  ligh  for  hap- 
pinefs  in  the  midft  of  a  paradife  :  Thy 
loving  kindnefs  is  better  than  life ; 
and  if  a  tafte  of  thy  love  be  thus  tranf- 
porting,  what  extafies  fhall  I  know 
when  I  drink  my  fill  of  the  flreams  of 
blifs,  that  flow  from  thy  right  hand 

for  ever ;  But  when * 

When 


XIIL  of  the  Heart.  83 

When  (hall  this  happy  day  of  vifion  be  ?  ~\ 

When  fhall  I  make  a  near  approach  to  thee  ?        v 
Be  loft  in  love,  and  wrapt  in  extafie  ? 
Oh  !  when  ihall  I  behold  thee  all  ferene 
Without  this  envious  cloudy  veil  between  ? 
'Tis  true  the  facred  elements  *  impart 
Thy  virtual  prefence  to  my  faithful  heart ;        1 
But  to  my  fenfe  ftill  unreveaPd  thou  art-          j 
This,  tho'  a  great,  is  an  imprefecT:  blifs, 
To  fee  a  ftiadow  for  the  God  I  wifh : 
My  foul  a  more  exalted  pitch  would  fly, 
And  view  thee  in  the  heights  of  majefty. 

XIV, 

Banijhment  from  GOD  for  ever. 

TNEPART  from  me,  ye  curfed  !  Oh 
^-^  let  me  never  hear  thy  voice  pro 
nounce  thofe  dreadful  words.  With 
what  terrors  would  that  fentence  pierce 
my  heart,  while  it  thunders  in  my  ears  ! 
Oh,  rather  fpeak  me  into  my  primitive 
nothing,  and  with  one  potent  word  finiili 
my  exiflence.  To  be  feparated  from 
thee,  andcurft  with  immortality,  who 
can  fultain  the  intolerable  doom  ? 


*   At  the  Lord's  Suffer. 

O  dread- 


§4  Devout  Exercifes  XIV, 

O  dreadful  ftate  of  black  defpair, 

To  fee  my  God  remove, 
And  fix  my  doleful  flation  where 

I  muft  not  tafle  his  love* 

Nor  view  the  light  of  thy  countenance 
for  ever.  Unutterable  woe  !  there  is 
no  hell  beyond  it.  Separation  from 
God  is  the  depth  of  mifery  :  Blacknefs 
of  darknefs,  and  eternal  night,  muft 
neceflarily  involve  a  foul  excluded  from 
thy  prefence.  What  life,  what  joy, 
what  hope  is  to  be  found  where  thou 
art  not  ?  I  want  words  to  paint  my 
thoughts  of  that  difmal  ftate,  Oh  !  let 
me  never  be  referved  for  the  dreadful 
experience  !  Ratherlet  loofethy  wrath, 
anid  in  a  moment  reduce  me  into  no 
thing. 

Depart  from  thee  !  Oh,  whither 
fhould  I  go  from  thee  ?  Into  utter 
darknefs  !  that  makes  no  addition  at 
all  to  the  wretch's  mifery  that  is  ban- 
ifhed  from  thy  face.  After  that  fearful 
doom  I  ftiould  without  conftraint  feek 
out  fliades  as  dark  as  hell,  being  molt 

agreeable 


XIV.  of  the  Heart.  85 

agreeable  to  my  own  defpair,  and  in 
the  horrors  of  eternal  night  bewail  the 
infinite  lofs. 

The  remmbrance  of  that  loft  hap- 
pinefs  would  render  celeftial  day  infuf- 
ferable.  The  light  of  paradife  could 
not  chear  me  without  thy  favour.  The 
fongs  of  angels  would  but  heighten  my 
anguiih,  and  torment  me  with  a  fcene 
of  blifs  which  I  muft  never  tafte.  The 
fight  of  thy  favourites,  and  the  glories 
of  thy  court,  would  but  excite  my 
envy,  and  fill  me  with  madnefs,  wrhile 
I  confidered  myfelf  the  object  of  thine 
eternal  indignation  !  Nor  could  all  the 
harmony  of  heaven  allay  the  horror  of 
that  reflection. 

The  groans  of  the  damned,  and  the 
darknefs  of  the  infernal  caverns,  would 
better  fuit  my  grief.  There,  to  the 
cries  of  tormented  ghofts,  and  to  the 
found  of  eternal  tempefts,  I  might  join 
my  wild  complaints,  and  lament  the 
lofs  of  infinite  blifs,  and  curfe  my 
owrn  folly  :  But  all  the  plagues  below, 
if  I  might  fpeak  my  prefent  thoughts, 
fhould  not  extort  a  blafphemous  re- 
H  fleftion 


86  Devout  Exercifes         XIV. 

fle<ftion  on  the  divine  attributes ;  for  I 
know  I  deferve  eternal  mifery,  and 
^even  in  hell  I  fliould  confefs  thy  juf- 
tice.  Thy  long  experienced  clemency, 
I  am  fure,  ought  to  filence  my  re 
proaches  for  ever,  and  to  all  eternity 
leave  thee  unblemidied  with  the  im 
putation  of  cruelty. 

But,  oh!  what  agonies  wrould  the 
remembrance  of  thy  former  favour  ex 
cite  ?  What  exquifite  remorfe  would  it 
give  me  to  recall  thofe  happy  moments 
when  thou  didft  blefs  my  retired  devo 
tions  with  thy  prefence  :  After  I  have 
relifhed  thofe  divine  entertainments, 
how  bitter  would  the  dregs  of  thy  wrath 
be  !  Whither  wrould  thy  frowns  fink 
me,  after  I  have  enjoyed  the  light  of 
thy  countenance  ? 

Ifl  muft  lofe  thy  favour,  oh!  let 
me  forget  what  that  word  imports,  and 
blot  for  ever  from  my  remembrance 
the  joys  that  a  fenfe  of  thy  love  has  ex 
cited  :  Let  no  traces  of  thofe  facred 
tranfports  be  kft  on  my  foul. 

But  muft  I  depart  from  thee  into  e- 
-verlafling  fire  ?  Double  and  dreadtul 
curfe  !  And  yet  unquenchable  flames, 

and 


XIV.  of  the   m&f.  .  87 

and  infernal  chains  (if  I  can  judge  in 
this  life  of  fuch  awful  futurities)  ^vould 
be  lefs  terrible  than  the  fenfe  of  thofe 
loft  joys.  That  lofs  would  endure  no 
reflection;  the  review  would  be  tor  ever 
infufferable  ;  the  ages  of  eternity  could 
not  diminifh  the  exquifite  regret  ;  ftill 
it  would  excite  new  and  unutterable 
anguifh,  and  rack  me  with  infinite 
defpair 

Blefled  God  !  pity  the  foul  wrhofe  ex- 
tremeft  horror  is  the  doom  of  an  eter 
nal  departure  from  thee.  Draw  my 
fpirit  into  the  holieft  and  the  neareft 
union  with  thyfelf  that  is  poffible,  while 
it  dwells  in  this  flefh  ;  and  let  me  here 
commence  that  delightful  refidence  and 
converfe  with  God,  which  neither 
death  nor  judgment  fhall  ever  deftroy, 
nor  fhall  a  long  eternity  ever  put  a  pe 
riod  to  it. 


XV. 


88  Devout  Exercifes  XV. 

XV. 

*Tbe  Glory  of  GOD  ,  in  His  Works  of  Gre 
at  ion  ^  Providence^  and  Redemption . 

rY  being  immediately  flows  from 
thee,  and  fhould  I  not  praife  my 
Omnipotent  Maker?  I  received  the 
laft  breath  I  drew  from  thee;  thou  doft 
fuftain  my  life  this  very  moment,  and 
the  next  depends  entirely  on  thy  plea- 
fure.  It  is  the  dignity  of  my  nature  to 
know,  and  my  happineis  to  praife  and 
adore  my  great  original.  But,  Oh! 
thou  Supreme  of  all  things !  how  art 
thou  to  be  extolled  by  mortal  man  ?  "  I 
**  fay  to  corruption,  Thou  art  my  fa- 
**  ther  j  and  to  the  worms,  Ye  are  my 
4i  brethren;  my  days  are  as  a  hand's 
41  breadth,  and  my  life  is  nothing  be- 
"  fore  thee;  but  thou  art  the  fame,  and 
"  thy  years  never  fail:  From  everlaft- 
<(  ing  to  everlafting  thou  art  God:" 
the  incomprehenfible,  the  immutable 
Divinity.  The  language  of  paradife, 
and  the  ftrains  of  celeftial  eloquence, 
fall  Ihort  of  thy  perfe&ions;  the  firil 

born 


XV.  of  tie  Heart.  89 

born  fons  of  light  lofe  themfelves  in 
blifsful  aftonifhment,  in  fearch  of  thy 
excellencies  ;  even  they  with  filent  ec- 
ftafy  adore  thee,  while  thou  art  veiled 
with  ineffable  fplendour. 

The  bright,  the  blelt  Divinity,  is  known 
And  comprehended  by  himfelf  alone. 

Who  can  conceive  the  extent  of  that 
power,  which  out  of  nothing  brought 
materials  for  a  rifing  world,  and  from 
a  gloomy  chaos  bid  the  harmonious  u- 
niverfe  appear. 

Confufion  heard  the  voice,  and  wild  uproar 
Stood  rul'd  ;  flood  vaft  'infinity  confined.' 

At  thy  word  the  pillars  of  the  {ky 
were  framed,  and  its  beauteous  arches 
raifed  :  Thy  breath  kindled  the  ftars, 
adorned  the  moon  with  filver  rays,  and 
give  the  fun  its  flaming'  fplendour. 
Thou  didft  prepare  for  the  waters  their 
capacious  bed,  and  by  thy  power  fet 
bounds  to  the  raging  billows  :  By  thee 
the  valleys  were  clothed  in  their  flow 
ery  pride,  and  the  mountains  crowned 
with  groves.  In  all  the  wonderful  ef- 
H  3 


90  Devout  Exercijes  XV* 

feels  of  nature,  we  adore  and  confefs 
thy  power ;  thou  uttereft  thy  voice  in 
thunder,  and  doftfcatter  thy  lightning 
abroad;  thou  rideft  on  the  wings  of 
the  wind  ;  the  mountains  fmoke,  and 
forefts  tremble,  at  thy  approach ;  the 
fummer  and  winter*  the  fhady  night, 
and  the  bright  revolutions  of  the  day> 
are  thine. 

Thefe  are  thy  glorious  works,  Parent  of  good  ! 
Almighty !  thine  this  univerfal  frame : 
Thus  wond'rous  they  •,    thyfelf  how  wond'rous 
then! 

But,  O !  what  muft  thy  eflential 
majefty  and  beauty  be,  if  thou  art  thus 
illuftrious  in  thy  works  ?  If  the  difco- 
veries  of  thy  power  and  wifdom  are 
thus  delightful,  how  transporting  are 
the  manifeftations  of  thy  goodnefs? 
From  thee  every  thing  that  lives  re 
ceives  its  breath,  and  by  thee  are  all 
upheld  in  life.  Thy  providence  reach 
es  the  leaft  infecTt;  for  thou  art  good, 
and  thy  care  extends  to  all  thy  other 
works.  Thou  feedeft  the  ravens;  and 
doft  provide  the  young  lions  their  prey; 
Thou  fcattereft  thy  bleffings,  with  a  li 
beral 


XV.  of  the  Heart.  91, 

beral  hand,  on  the  whole  creation  ; 
man,  ungrateful  man,  largely  partakes 
thy  bounty.  Thou  caufeft  thy  rain  to 
defcend,  and  makeft  the  fun  to  fhine  oa 
the  evil  and  unthankful;  forthouart 
good,  and  thy  mercy  end  lire  th  for  ever. 
As  the  Creator  and  Preferver  of  men, 
thou  art  glorioufly  manifeft  j  but,  oh! 
how  much  more  glorioufly  art  thou  re 
vealed,  as  reconciling  ungrateful  ene 
mies  to  thyfelf  by  the  blood  of  thy  e- 
ternal  Son  ?  Here  thy  beneficence  dif- 
playsitsbrighteft  fplendour :  Here  thou 
doft  fully  difcover  thy  moft  magnifi 
cent  titles,  THE  LORD,  THE  LORD 
GOD,  MERCIFUL  AND  GRACIOUS, 
LONG-SUFFERING,  AND  ABUNDANT 

IN  GOODNESS.  How unfearchable are 
thy  ways,  and  thy  paths  paft  finding 
out !  Infinite  depths  of  love,  never  to 
be  exprefled  by  human  language  !  and 
yet  fhould  man  be  filent,  the  ftones 
themfelves  would  fpeak,  and  the  mute 
creation  find  a  voice  to  upbraid  his  un 
grateful  folly. 


XVI. 


9  2  Devout  Exercifes  XVI. 

XVL 

Longing  for  the  Coming  of  CHRIST. 
,  Lord  Jefus  !  come  quickly. 


Oh,  come  !  left  my  expectations 
faint,  left  I  grow   weary,    and  mur 
mur  at   thy  long  delay.      I   am  tired 
with   thefe  vanities,   and   the   wrorld 
grows  every  day  more  unentertaining 
and  infipid  ;  it  has  now  loft  its  charms, 
and  finds  my  heart  infenfible  to  all  its 
allurements.     With  coldnefs  and  con- 
tempt  I  view  thefe    tfanfitory  glories, 
infpired    with   nobler    profpefts   andy 
vafter   expe&ations    by  faith.     I    fee 
the  promifedland,  and  every  day  brings' 
me  nearer  the  poffeffion  of  my  heavenly 
inheritance.     Then  lhall  1  fee   God, 
and  live  :  and,  face  to  face,  behold  my 
triumphant  Redeemer  j 

And  in  his  favour  find  immortal  light. 

Ye  hours  and  days,  cut  Ihort  your  tedious  flight  ; 

Ye  months  and  years,  (if  fuch  allotted  be 

In  this  detefled  barren  world  for  me) 

"With  hafty  revolution  roll  along; 

I  languifh  with  impatience  to  be  gone. 

I  have   nothing  here  to  linger  for  ; 

my 


XVL  of  the  Heart.  93 

my  hopes,  my  reft,  my  treafure,  and 
my  joys  are  all  above:  My  foul  faints 
for  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  in  a  dry  arxl 
thirfty  land  where  there  is  no  refrefh- 
ment. 

How  long  fhall  I  dwell  in  Mefhech. 
and  fojourn  in  the  tents  of  Kedar  ? 
When  will  thewearifome  journey  of  life 
be  finifhed  ?  When  fhall  I  reach  my 
everlafting  home,  and  arrive  at  my  ce- 
leftial  country  ?  My  heart,  my  willies, 
are  already  there  :  I  have  no  engage 
ments  to  delay  my  farewell,  nothing 
to  detain  me  here;  but  wander  an 
unacquainted  pilgrim,  a  ftranger,  and 
defolate,  far  from  my  native  regions. 

My  friends  are  gone  before,  and  are 
now  triumphing  in  the  ikies,  fecure 
of  the  conqueft,  poffeiTed  of  the  re 
wards  of  victory.  They  furvey  the 
field  of  battle,  and  look  back  with  plea- 
fure  on  the  diftant  danger ;  death  and 
hell  for  ever  vanquifhed,  leave  them  in 
the  pofTeffion  of  endlefs  tranquillity 
and  joy  :  While  I,  befet  with  a  thou- 
fand  fnares,  and  tired  with  continual 
toil,  unfteadily  maintain  the  field,  till 

active 


94  Devout  Exercifcs          XVL 

adlive  faith  fteps  in,  affures  me  of  the 
conquefl,  and  fliews  me  the  mortal 
crown.  It  is  faith  tells  me  that  light 
is  fown  for  the  righteous,  and  glad- 
nefs  for  the  upright  in  heart :  It  affures 
me,  that  my  Redeemer  lives,  and 
that  he  fhall  lland  at  the  laft  day  on  the 
earthj  and  though,  after  my  fkin, 
worms  deftroy  this  body,  yet  in  my 
flefti  fhall  fee  I  God;  whom  I  (hall 
fee  for  rnyfelf,  and  not  another;  and 
thefe  eyes  fhall  behold,  though  my 
reins  be  confumed  within  me.  Amen, 
even  fo  come  Lord  Jefus  !  This  mufl 
be  the  language  of  my  foul  till  thou 
doft  appear,  and  thefe  my  impatient 
breathings  after  thee.  Till,  I  fee  thy 
falvation,  my  heart  and  my  flefh  will 
pine  for  the  living  God. 

Grant  me,  O  Lord,  to  fulfill  as  a 
hireling  my  day  :  fhorten  the  fpace, 
and  let  it  be  full  of  action.  It  is  of  fmall 
importance  how  few  there  are  of  thefe 
little  circles  of  day  sand  hours,  fo  they 
are  but  well  filled  up  with  devotion* 
and  with  all  proper  duty. 

XVIL 


XVII.  of  the  Heart.  95 

XV1L 

Seeking  after  an  abfent  GOD. 

H  !  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry: 
and  I,  who  ann  but  duft,  will 
fpeak.  Why  doft  thou  withdraw  thy- 
felf,  and  fuffer  me  to  purfue  thee  in 
vain  !  If  I  am  (unrounded  with  thy  im- 
menfity,  why  am  I  thus  infenfible  of 
thee?  Why  do  1  not  find  thee,  if  thou 
art  every-where  prefent  ?  1  fearch  thee 
in  the  temple;  where  thou  haft  often 
met  me  :  there  I  havefeen  the  traces  of 
thy  majeftyand  beauty;  but  thofe  fa- 
cred  vifions  blefs  my  fight  no  more*  I 
fearch  thee  in  my  fecret  retirements, 
where  I  have  called  upon  thy  name, 
and  have  often  heard  the  whifpers  of 
thy  voice  ;  that  celeftial  converfation 
hath  often  reached  and  raptured  my 
foul,  but  I  am  folaced  no  more  with 
thofe  divine  condefcenfions  :  I  liften, 
but  I  hear  thofe  gen  tie  founds  no  more; 
I  pine  and  languish,  but  thou  flieft 
me  ;  ilill  I  wither  in  thy  abicnce,  as  a 
drooping  plant  for  the  reviving  fun. 

O 


9  6  Devout  Exercifes         XVII. 

O  !  when  wilt  thou  fcatter  this  me 
lancholy  darknefs  ?  When  fhall  the 
fhadows  flee  before  thee  ?  When  (hall 
the  chearful  glory  of  thy  grace  dawn  upon 
my  mind  at  thy  approach  ?  I  fhall  re 
vive  at  thy  light ;  my  vital  fpirits  will 
confefs  thy  prefence  ;  grief  and  an 
xiety  will  vaniih  before  thee,  and  im 
mortal  joys  furround  my  foul. 

Where  thou  art  prefent,  heaven  and 
happinefs  enfue ;  hell  and  damnation 
fill  the  breail  where  thou  art  abient. 
While  God  withdraws,  I  am  encom- 
paffed  with  darknefs  and  difpair \  the 
fun  and  ftars  (hine  with  an  uncomfort 
able  luftre  ;  the  faces  of  my  friends 
grow  tirefome  ;  the  fmiles  of  angels 
would  fail  to  chear  my  languifhing 
fpirit.  I  grow  unacquainted  with  tran 
quillity;  peace  and  joy  are  empty  founds 
to  me,  and  words  without  a  meaning. 

Tell  me  not  of  glory  and  pleafure, 
there  are  no  fuch  things  without  my 
God  ;  while  he  withdraws,  what  de 
light  can  thefe  trifles  afford  ?  All  that 
amufes  mankind,  are  but  dreams  of 
happinefs,  (hades,  and  fantaftic  ap- 
3  pearances 


XVII.  of  the  Heart.  97 

pcarances :  What  compenfation  can 
they  make  for  an  infinite  God  depart 
ed?  All  nature  cannot  repair  my  lofs: 
Heaven  and  earth  would  offer  their 
treafures  in  vain:  not  all  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world,  nor  the  thrones  of  arch 
angels,  could  give  me  a  recompence 
for  an  abfent  God. 

O  where  can  my  grief  find  redrefs  ? 
whence  can  I  draw  fatisfadlion,  when 
the  fountain  of  joy  feals  up  its  ftreams  ? 
My  forrows  are  hopelefs  till  he  return; 
without  him  my  night  will  never  fee 
a  dawn,  but  extend  toeverlaftingdark- 
nefs  :  Content  and  joy  will  be  eternal 
ftrangersto  my  breaft.  Had  I  all  things 
within  the  compafs  of  creation  to  de 
light  me,  his  frowns  would  hlaft  the 
whole  enjoyment;  unreconciled  to  God 
rny  foul  would  be  ever  at  variance 
with  itfelf- 

Even  now,  while  I  believe  thy  glory 
hid  from  me  but  with  a  tranfient  eclipfe, 
while  I  wait  for  thy  return  as  for  the 
dawning  day,  my  foul  fuffersinexpreffi- 
bleagoniesatthedelay;  the  minutes  feem 
to  linger,  and  days  are  lengthened  into 
i  ages  j 


9  3  Devout  Exercifes         X  V 1 1 . 

ages:  But,  Lord!  what  keener  anguifh 
ihould  I  feel,  did  I  think  thyprefence 
had  totally  forfaken  me,  did  I  imagine 
thy  glory  iliould  no  more  arife  on  my 
foul?  My  fpirits  fail  at  thefuppofition  ; 
I  cannot  face  the  dreadful  apprehenfion 
of  my  God  for  ever  gone.  Is  it  not  hell 
in  its  moft  horrid  profpedt?  eternal 
darknefs,  and  the  undying  worm  ?  infi 
nite  ruin, and  irreparable  damage?  Com 
pared  to  this,  what  were  all  the  plagues 
that  earth  could  threaten,  or  hell  in 
vent?  What  is  difgrace,  and  poverty, 
and  pain  ?  What  is  all  that  mortals 
fear,  real  or  imaginary  evils  ?  They  are 
nothing,  compared  to  the  terrors  which 
the  thought  of  lofing  my  God  excites. 
O  thou  who  art  my  boundlefs  trea- 
fure,  my  infinite  delight,  my  all,  my 
ineffable  portion  !  can  I  part  with  thee  ? 
I  may  fee  without  light,  and  breathe 
without  air,  fooner  than  be  blefled 
without  my  God.  Happinefs,  fepar- 
ated'  from  thee,  were  a  contradiction, 
an  impoflibility,  (if  1  dare  fpeak  it) 
to  Omnipotence  itfelf.  I  feel  a  flame 
which  the  molt  glorious  creation  could 

not 


XVIII.  of  the  Heart.  99 

notfatisfy,  an  emptinefs  which  nothing 
but  infinite  love  could  fill.  I  mult 
find  thee,  or  weary  myfelf  in  an  eter 
nal  purfuit.  Nothing  fhall  divert  me 
in  the  endlefs  fearch,  no  obftacle  fhall 
fright  me  back,  no  allurement  with 
hold  me,  nothing  fhall  flatter  or  relieve 
my  impatience ;  my  blifs,  my  heaven, 
my  all  depends  on  the  fuccefs.  Shew 
me  where  thou  art,  O  my  God  !  Con 
duct  me  into  thy  prefence,  and  let  thy 
love  confine  me  there  for  ever. 

XVIIL 

Appeals  to  GOD,  concerning  the  Supre 
macy  of  Lo-ve  to  tin.;. 

OGOD  !  when  f  ceafe  to  love  and 
praife  thce,  let  me  ceafe  to  breathe 
and  live.  When  1  forget  thee,  let 
rne  forget  the  name  ot  happinefs, 
an]  let  every  pleafing  idea  be  ra 
zed  from  my  memory.  When  thou 
art  not  my  fupreme  delight,  let  all 
things  elfe  deceive  me  ;  let  me  grow 
unacquainted  with  peace,  and  feek  re- 
pofe  in  vain :  Let  delufions  mock  my 

gayeit 


i  o  o  Devout  Exercifes     X  V 1 1 1 . 

gayeft  hopes:  let  my  defires  find  no 
fatisfadiion,  til]  they  are  terminated  all 
in  thee.  When  i  forget  the  fatisfadti- 
ons  of  thy  love,  O  my  God  !  let  plea- 
lure  be  a  flranger  to  my  foul ;  when  I 
prefer  not  that  to  my  chiefeft  joy,  let 
me  he  infenfible  of  all  delight ;  when 
thy  benignity  is  not  dearer  to  me  than 
life,  let  that  life  become  my  burden, 
and  my  pain. 

Search  the  inmoft  receffes  of  my 
heart ;  and  if  thou  findeil  any  compe 
titor  there,  remove  the  darling  vanity, 
and  blot  every  name  but  thine  from  my 
bread.  Let  me  find  nothing  but  emp- 
tinefs  in  the  creature,  when  I  forfake 
the  All-fufficient  Creator:  Let  the 
ftreams  be  cut  off,  when  I  wander  a- 
way  and  abandon  the  fountain.  Let  me 
be  deftitute  of  affiflance,  when  I  ceafe 
to  rely  on  thee;  let  ray  lips  be  forever 
filent,  when  they  refufe  to  acknowledge 
thy  benefits,  and  make  not  thee  the 
fubject  of  their  higheft  praife.  Let  no 
joyful  ftrain  enter  at  my  ears,  when 
thy  name  is  not  the  mod  delightful 
found  they  can  convey  to  my  heart. 


XVIII.  of  the  Heart.  101 

I  have  been  pronouncing  heavy  cur- 
fes  on  myfelf,  if  thy  love  be  not  my 
chief  bleffing:  Yet,  O  my  deareft  good, 
my  portion,  and  my  only  felicity  ! 
might  I  not  go  on  farther  ftill,  and 
even  venture  immortal  joys  on  the  fin- 
cerity  of  my  love  to  thee  ?  Bleffed  Lord  ! 
forgive  thefe  dangerous  efforts  of  a 
mortal  tongue,  which  are  the  mere  out- 
breakings  of  a  fervent  affection.  I 
could  even  dare  to  pledge  all  my  hopes 
and  mypretenfions  to  future  happinefs, 
and  (O  let  not  my  heart  deceive  me  ! )  I 
think  I  fhould  rifle  them  all,  if  thou 
thyfelf  art  not  the  object  of  my  bright- 
eft  hopes,  and  the  light  of  thy  coun 
tenance  the  height  of  that  expected  hap 
pinefs. 

If  I  defire  any  thing  in  heaven  or  on 
earth  in  comparifon  of  thee,  1  am  al- 
moit  ready  to  fay,  banifh  me  as  an  eter 
nal  exile  from  the  light  of  paradife: 
Even  that  paradife  would  be  melan 
choly  darknefs  without  thee  ;  and  the 
obfcureit  corner  of  the  creation ,  bleffed 
with  thy  prefence,  would  be  more  a- 
greeable,  Oh  !  where  could  I  be  hap- 
1  3  py 


i  o  2  Devout  Excrcifes      XVIII. 

py  remote  from  thee  ?  What  imagina 
ble  good  could  fupply  thy  abfence  ? 
Say,  O  my  God  !  do  I  not  love  thee  ? 

Shall  I  call  the  holy  angels  to  wit 
nefs  ?  Shall  1  call  heaven  and  earth  to 
witnefs  ?  Will  not  the  Moft  High  God 
himfelf,  the  poffeflbr  of  heaven  and 
earth,  coridefcend  to  witnefs  the  ardor 
and  fincerity  of  my  love? 

With  what  pleafure  do  I  refleit  on 
the  obligations  by  which  I  have  devo 
ted  myielf  to  thee  ?  My  foul  colled:s 
itfelf,  and  with  an  entire  affent  gives 
up  all  its  powers  to  thee  :  I  would 
bind  myielf  to  thee,  beyond  all  the  ties 
that  mortals  know.  You  minifters  of 
light!  give  me  your  flames,  and  teach 
me  your  celeftial  forms  ;  let  all  be  no 
ble  and  pathetic,  and  folemn  as  your 
own  immortal  vows,  and  I  will  joy 
fully  go  through  them  all,  to  bind  my- 
felf  to  my  God  for  ever.  Say  now,  ye 
heavens  and  earth  !  fay  ye  holy  angels  ? 
and,  O  thou  all-knowing  God  !  fay, 
do  I  not  love  thee  ? 


XIX. 


XIX.  of  the  Heart.  103 

XIX. 

A  devout  Rapture;  or,  Love  to   GOD 
inexpreffible. 

THOU  radiant  fun  !  thou  moon  ! 
and  all  ye  fparkling  ftars  !  how 
gladly  would  I  leave  your  pleafant  light, 
to  fee  the  face  of  God  ?  Ye  chryftal 
ftreams,  ye  groves  and  flowery  lawns, 
my  innocent  delight !  how  joy  fully  could 
I  leave  you,  to  meet  that  blifsful  prof- 
peci  ?  And  you  delightful  faces  of  my 
friends  !  I  would  this  moment  quit 
you  all  to  fee  him  whom  my  foul  loves : 
fo  loves,  that  I  can  find  no  words  to  ex- 
prefs  the  unutterable  ardor  :  Not  as  the 
mi'fer  loves  his  wealth,  nor  the  ambiti 
ous  his  grandeur;  not  as  the  libertine 
loves  his  pleafure,  or  the  generous  man 
his  friend:  Thefe  are  flat  fimilitudes, 
to  defcribe  fuch  an  intenfe  paffion  as 
mine.  Not  as  a  man  fcorched  in  a 
fever,  longs  fora  cooling  draught ;  not 
as  a  weary  traveller  willies  for  foft  re- 
pofe  :  My  refdefs  defires  admit  of  no 
equal  comparifon  from  thefe. 


IO4  Devout  Exercifes          XIX. 

I  love  my  friend ;  my  vital  breath  and 
the  light  of  heaven  are  dear  to  me : 
But,  fhould  1  fay  1  love  my  God  as 
I  love  thefe,  I  fhould  belie  the  facred 
flame  which  afpires  to  infinity.  It  is 
thee,abftra6tly  thee,  O  uncreated  beau 
ty,  that  I  love  !  in  thee  my  wifhes  are 
all  terminated  :  in  thee,  as  in  their 
blifsful  center,  all  my  defires  meet, 
and  there  they  muft  be  eternally  fixed : 
It  is  thou  alone  that  muft  conftitute  my 
everlafting  happinefs.  Were  the  harps 
of  angels  filent,  there  would  be  harmo 
ny  for  me  in  the  whifpers  of  thy  love  : 
Were  the  fields  of  light  darkened,  thy 
fmiles  would  blefs  me  with  everlafting 
day  :  The  vilion  of  thy  face  will  attrad: 
my  eyes,  nor  give  me  leifure  to  wafte 
a  look  on  other  obje&s  to  all  eternity, 
any  farther  than  God  is  to  be  feen  in  his 
creatures.  All  their  beams  of  grace,  and 
joy,  and  glory,  are  derived  from  thee, 
The  Eternal  Son ;  and  will  merit  my 
attention  no  farther,  than  they  reflect 
thy  image,  or  difcover  thy  excellen 
cies. 

Even 


XIX.  of  the  Heart.  1  05 

Even  at  this  diftance,  encompaffed 
with  the  (hades  of  death,  and  the  mifts 
ofdarknefs,  in  thefecold  melancholy 
regions,  when  a  ray  of  thy  love  breaks 
in  on  my  foul,  when  through  the 
clouds  I  can  trace  hut  one  feeble  beam, 
even  that  obfcures  all  human  glory, 
and  gives  me  a  contempt  for  whatever 
mortality  can  boaft.  What  wonders 
then  will  the  open  vifion  of  thy  face 

fo 


effect,  when  I  iliall  enjoy  it  in 
lime  a  degree,  that  the  magnificence 
of  the  ikies  will  not  draw  my  regard, 
nor  the  converfe  of  angels  divert  my 
thoughts  from  thee?  Thou  wilt  en- 
grofs  my  everlafting  attention  ?  and  I 
fhould  abound  in  felicity,  if  I  had  no 
thing  to  entertain  me  but  immediate 
communion  with  the  Infinite  Divinity. 
Mend  thy  pace,  old  lazy  time  !  and 
fhake  thy  heavy  fands  ?  make  fhorter 
circles,  ye  rolling  planets  !  when  will 
your  deftined  courfes  be  fulfilled  ? 
Thou  reftlefs  fun  !  how  long  wilt  thou 
travel  the  celeftial  road?  when  will  thy 
ftarry  walk  be  finished  ?  when  will 
the  commiffioned  angel  arreft  thee  in 

thy 


106  Devout  Exercifes         XIX. 

thy  progrefs,  and,  lifting  up  his  hand, 
fwear  by  the  unutterable  name,  that 
time  lhall  be  no  more  ?  O  happy  pe 
riod  !  my  impatient  foul  fprings  for 
ward  to  falute  thee,  and  leaves  the  lag 
ging  days,  and  months,  and  years, 
far  behind.  "Makehafte,  my  beloved  ! 
"  and  be  like  a  roe  or  a  young  hart 
"  on  the  fpicy  mountains/' 

I  pine,  I  die,  for  a  fight  of  thy 
countenance.  Oh !  turn  the  veil  a- 
iide,  blow  away  the  feparating  cloud; 
pull  out  the  pins  of  this  tabernacle, 
break  the  cords,  and  let  fall  the  cur 
tain  of  mortality.  Oh  !  let  it  interpofe 
no  longer  between  me  and  my  perfect 
blifs.  I  feel  thofe  flames  of  divine 
love,  which  are  unextinguifliable  as 
the  lights  of  heaven  ;  not  death  itfelf 
ihall  quench  the  facred  ardor. 

Ye  minifters  of  light !  ye  guardians 
ofthejuft!  (land  and  witnefs  to  my 
vows :  and  in  a  humble  dependence 
on  thy  grace,  O  Jefus!  may  I  not 
venture  to  bid  thefe  thy  flaming  mini 
fters  proteft  againft  me  when  1  change 
my  love:  and  fland  my  accufers  at  the 

laft 


XIX.  of  the  Heart.  107 

laft  judgment  ?  When  I  prove  falfe  to 
thee,  may  I  not  venture  to  fay  to  them 
all,  Bring  in  your  awful  evidence, 
and  proclaim  my  perjury. 

For  you  have  liflened,  while  the  facred  name 
That  kindles  in  each  heavenly  breaft  a  flame, 
You  liftened,  while  it  melted  on  my  tongue, 
Flow'dfrom  my  lips,  and  grac'd  the  midnight  fong. ' 
Blefl  was  the  time,  and  fwiftly  fled  the  hours, 
While  holy  love  employed  my  nobleft  powers  : 
The  heav'ns  appear'd,  and  the  propitious  (fides 
Unveil'd  their  inrnoft  glories  to  my  eyes. 
Oh,  flay!  I  cry'd  ;  ye  happy  moments,  ftay! 
Nor  in  your  flight  fnatch  thefe  delights  away  ; 
I  afk  no  more  the  rifing  fun  to  view  ; 
To  mortals  and  their  hopes  I  bid  adieu. 

Thefe  heavens,  and  this  earth,  have 
been  witnelTes  to  my  vows  :  The  holy 
angels  have  been  witneffes :  and  all 
will  join  together,  to  condemn  me 
when  I  violate  my  faith.  Strengthen 
and  confirm  it,  O  my  Saviour!  and 
make  the  bonds  of  it  immortal. 

If  I  were  only  to  reafon  upon  this 
fubjed:,  I  mightfay,  what  motive  could 
earth,  what  could  hell,  what  could  hea 
ven  itfelf  propofe  to  tempt  my  foul  to 
change  its  love?  What  could  they  lay 
in  the  balance  againft  an  infinite  good  ? 

What 


io8  Devout  Exercifes         XIX. 

What  could  be  thrown  in  as  a  flake  a- 
gainft  the  favour  of  God  !  Afk  the 
happy  fouls,  who  know  what  the 
light  of  his  countenance  imports,  who 
drink  in  joy  and  immortality  from  his 
fmiles,  afk  them  what  value  they  fet 
on  their  enj  -ytnents?  Afk  them  what  in 
heaven  or  earth  mould  purchafeone  mo 
ment's  interval  of  their  blifs?  afk  fome 
radiant  feraph,  amiclft  the  fervency  of 
his  raptures,  at  what  price  he  values 
his  happinefs  ?  And  when  thefe  have 
named  the  purchafe,  earth  and  hell 
may  try  to  balance  mine.  Let  them 
fpread  the  baits  that  tempt  deluded 
men  to  ruin  ;  let  riches,  honour,  beau 
ty,  and  bewitching  pleafure,  appear  in 
all  their  charms  j  the  fenfuality  of  the 
prefent  and  paft  ages :  the  Feriian  de 
licacy,  and  the  Romanpride  ;  let  them 
uncover  the  golden  mines,  and  difclofe 
the  ruby  fparkling  in  its  bed;  let  them 
open  the  veins  of  fapphire,  and  fhew 
the  diamond  glittering  in  its  rock  ;  let 
them  all  be  thrown  into  the  balance  : 
Alas  !  their  weight  is  too  little,  and  too 

light. Let  the  pageantries  of  ftate 

i  be 


XIX.  of  the  Heart.  109 

be  added,  imperial  titles,  and  the  en- 
ligns  of  majefty  ;  put  in  all  that  bound- 
lefs  vanity  imagines,  or  wild  ambition 
craves,  crowns  and  fceptres,  regal  veft- 

ments,  and  golden  thrones the  fcale 

Hill  mounts. Throw  the  world  en 
tire 'tis  unfubftantial,  and  light  as 

airy  vanity. 

Are  thefe  thy  higheft  boafts,  O  de 
luding  world? Ye  minifters  of 

darknefs!  have  you  nothing  elfe  to  offer  ? 
are  thefe  your  utmoft  propofals  ?  are 
thefe  a  compensation  for  the  favour  of 
God  ?  Alas  !  that  boundlefs  word  has 
a  meaning  which  outweighs  them  all: 
Infinite  delight,  unconceiveable  joy 
are  expreffed  in  it ;  the  light  of  his 
countenance  iignifies  more  than  angels 
can  difcribe,  or  mortality  imagine: 
And  Ihall  I  quit  all  that  an  everlafting 
heaven  means,  for  empty  fhadows  ? 

Go,  ye  baffled  tempters  !  go,  offer 
your  toys  to  mad-men  and  fools;  they 
all  vanifh  under  my  fcorn,  and  cannot 
yield  fo  much  as  an  amufenient  to  my 
afpiring  thoughts.  The  fun,  in  all  his 
fpacious  circuit,  beholds  nothing  to 
K  tempt 


1 1  o  Devout  Exercifes  XIX. 

tempt  my  wifhes;  thefe  windingfldes, 
in  all  their  ample  round,  contain  no 
thing  equal  to  my  defires  :  My  ambi 
tion  has  far  different  ends,  and  other 
profpe&s  in  view ;  nothing  below  the 
joys  of  angels  can  fatisfy  me. 

Let  me  explore  the  worlds  of  life  and 
beauty,  and  find  a  path  to  the  dazzling 
receffes  of  the  Moft  High !  Let  me 
drink  at  the  fountain-head  of  pleafure, 
and  derive  all  that  I  want  from  original 
and  uncreated  fulnefs  and  felicity. 

Oh  divine  love  !  let  me  launch  out 
into  thy  pleafurable  depths,  and  be 
fwallowed  up  of  thee  :  Let  me  plunge 
at  once  in  immortal  joy,  and  lofe  my- 
fclf  in  the  infinite  ocean  of  happinefs. 

Till  then  I  pine  for  my  celeftial 
country;  till  then  I  murmur  to  the 
winds  and  ftreams,  and  tell  the  folita- 
ry  f hades  my  grief.  The  groves  are 
confcious  to  my  complaints,  and  the 
moon  and  fhirs  liften  to  my  fighs.  By 
their  filent  lights  I  talk  over  my  hea 
venly  concerns,  and  give  a  vent  to  my 
divine  affections  in  mortal  language; 

then, 


XIX.  of  the  Heart.  i  n 

J 

then,  looking  upwards,  I  grow  impa 
tient  to  reach  the  milky  way,  the  feats 
of  joy  and  immortality. 

Come  love,  come  life,  and  that  bleft  day 
For  which  I  languifh,  come  away  \ 
When  this  dry  foul  thefe  eyes  (hall  fee, 
And  drink  the  unfeal'd  fource  of  thee. 

Oh  come,  I  cry,  thou  whom  my 
foul  loveth  !  I  would  go  on,  but  want 
expreffion,  and  vainly  fhruggle  with 
the  unutterable  thought. 

Tell  me,  you  fons  of  light,  who 
feel  the  force  of  thefe  celeftial  fires  !  in 
what  language  you  paint  their  facred 
violence  ?  Or  do  the  tongues  of  feraphs 
faulter.  Does  the  language  of  paradife 
want  emphaiis  here,  and  immortal  elo 
quence  fail  ?  Surely  your  happinefs  is 
more  prefect  than  all  your  defcriptions 
of  it  :  Heaven  echoes  to  your  charm 
ing  notes,  as  far  as  they  reach  ;  while 
divine  love,  which  is  all  your  fong,  is 
infinite,  and  knows  no  limits  of  de 
gree  or  duration. 

Yet  I  would  fay,  fome  gentle  fpirit, 
come  and  inftruft  me  in  your  art ; 

lend 


11%  Devout  Exercifes  XX. 

lend  me  a  golden  harp,  and  guide  the 
facred  flight :  Let  me  imitate  your  de 
vout  (trains  \  let  me  copy  out  your  har 
mony;  and  then, 

Some  of  the  faireft  choir  above 

Shall  flock  around  my  fbng, 
With  joy  to  hear  a  name  they  love 

Sound  from  a  mortal  tongue. 

BlefTed  and  immortal  creatures !  I 
long  to  join  with  you  in  you  celeftial 
ftyle  of  adoration  and  love,  1  long  to 
learn  your  ecftafies  of  worfhip  and  joy, 
in  a  language  which  mortals  cannot 
pronounce;  an  1  to  fpeak  the  divine 
paffion  of  my  foul,  in  words  which  are 
now  m.fpeakable. 

XX. 
Self -reproof for  Inactivity. 

TS  it  poffible  that  I  fli-ould  one  day  be 
•*•  rapt  almoft  into  the  third  heavens, 
and,  ere  a  few  weeks  have  palled  over 
me,  I  iliould  find  myfelf  creeping  a^ 
mong  the  infefts  of  the  earth,  and  al 
moft  as  meanly  hulled  as  they?  Can 

divine 


XX.  of  the  Heart.  113 

divine  love,  which  exalted  me  lately 
into  flaming  tranfports,  fo  far  fubfide 
and  grow  cool  within  me  ?  Can  it  leave 
me  fo  unadlivc  as  I  now  feel  myfelf  ? 
What  (hall  I  do  to  ihame  my  confcience 
with  reproaches,  and  renew  the  flame 
of  religious  zeal  and  vigour. 

Alas  !  how  does  the  activity  of  men 
about  the  little  affairs  of  human  life, 
condemn  my  negligence  in  matters  of  e- 
verlafting  confequence  ?  Does  the  fond 
lover  with  fuch  anxiety  and  impatience 
purfue  the  objed:  of  his  wifhes  ?  and 
{hall  not  divine  beauty  and  infinite  love- 
linefs  inflame  my  defires  to  a  nobler 
height,  and  excite  my  languifhing  de 
votion  ? 

Are  the  ambitious  fo  refllefs  and  fo- 
licitous  to  make  themfelves  great,  and 
to  purchafe  the  veneration  of  fools  ?  Do 
they  lay  fuch  mighty  projects,  and  corn- 
pals  their  deligns  witnfuch  pain  and  dif 
ficulty,  for  mere  pageantry  and  gaudy 
trifles  ?  and  {hall  I ,  who  am  a  candidate 
for  heaven,  a  probationer  for  celeftial 
dignity,  lofe  my  title  for  want  of  dili 
gence?  Shall  I  faint  in  the  noble  ftrife, 
K  3  when 


1 1 4  Devout  Exercifes  X  X . 

when  God  and  angels  are  ready  to  affift 
me,  and  every  moments  toil  will  be 
recompenfed  with  eternal  ages  of  reft 
and  triumph. 

See,  fee  !  the  moments  fly,  the  la 
bour  fhortens,  and  the  immenfe  reward 
dra\vs  near;  the  palm  of  victory,  the 
ftarry  crown,  are  in  view;  the  happy 
realms  and  fields  of  light  entertain  me 
with  their  glorious  profpedt.  Rouze 
thee,  my  foul!  to  the  moft  a&ive  pur- 
fuit  of  thefe  felicities  :  Waken  all  the 
fprightly  powers  ;  and  let  it  never,  ne 
ver  be  thy  reproach,  that  the  vigour 
and  intenfenefs  of  thy  labours  fhall  fall 
ihort  of  the  pretenfions  of  thy  deiire  j 
or  that  thy  holy  induftry  fhould  fink  fo 
far  below  the  fervour  of  thofe  affections, 
which  in  a  devout  hour  thou  haft  pro 
nounced  inexpreflible. 

O  Lord  !  what  a  mutable  thing  is 
man  ?  What  frailty  works  in  this  flefli 
and  blood,  and  hangs  heavy  upon  our 
better  powers  ?  'Tis  grace,  divine  grace 
alone,  can  keep  alive  that  immortal 
fpark  within  us,  which  came  firft  from 
heaven,  and  firft  taught  our  hearts  to 

arife 


XXL  of  the  Heart.  115 

arife  and  fpring  upward.  Prefer ve  and 
complete  thy  own  work,  Almighty 
Grace  ! 

XXL 

A  joyful  View  of  approaching  Death. 

Death  !  where  is  thy  fling?  where 
is  thy  boafted  vi6tory  ?  The  con- 
queft  is  mine  :  I  ihall  pafs  in  triumph 
through  thy  dark  dominions  j  and, 
through  the  grace  of  the  Son  of  God, 
my  divine  leader,  I  fhall  appear  there, 
not  a  captive,  but  a  conqueror. 

O  king  of  terrors  !  where  are  thy 
formidable  looks  ?  I  can  fee  nothing 
dreadful  in  thy  afped:.  Thou  appear- 
eft  with  no  tokens  of  defiance,  nor 
doft  thou  come  with  fummons  from  a 
fevere  Judge ;  but  gentle  invitations 
from  my  bleffed  Redeemer,  who  hath 
paftglorioufly  through  thy  territories  in 
his  way  to  his  throne. 

Thrice  welcome,  thou  kind  meffen- 
ger  of  my  liberty   and   happinefs  !  a 
thoufand    times  more    welcome    than 
jubilee  to  the  wretched  Have,  than  par 
don 


j  1 6  Devout  Exercifes         XXI. 

don  to  a  condemned  malefadtor !  I  am 
going  from  darknefs  and  confinement, 
to  immenfe  light  and  perfed:  liberty ; 
from  thefe  tempeftuous  regions,  to 
the  foft  and  peaceable  climes  above  ; 
from  pain  and  grief,  to  everlafting  eafe 
and  tranquillity.  For  the  toils  of  vir 
tue,  I  fhall  immediately  receive  its  vaft 
rewards;  for  the  reproach  of  fools, 
the  honour  and  applaufe  of  angels.  In  a 
few  minutes,  I  fhall  be  higher  than 
yonder  ftars,  and  brighter  far  than 
they.  I  fhall  range  the  boundlefs 
aether,  and  breathe  the  balmy  airs  of 
paradife.  I  fhall  prefently  behold  my 
glorious  Marker,  and  fing  Hallelujahs 
to  my  exalted  Saviour. 

And  now  come,  ye  bright  guardians 
of  the  juft  !  conduit  me  through  the 
unknown  and  tracklefs  aether,  for 
you  pafs  and  repafs  this  celefHal  road 
continually  ;  you  have  commiilion  not 
to  leave  me  till  i  arrive  at  mount  Sion, 
the  heavenly  Jerufalem,  the  city  of  the 
living  God :  till  1  come  to  the  innumer 
able  company  of  angels,  and  the  fpi- 
rits  of  juft  men  made  perfect. 

Hold 


XXL  of  the  Heart.  117 

Hold  out,  faith  and  patience!  Tis 
but  a  little  while,  and  your  work  will 
be  at  an  end  j  but  a  few  moments,  and 
thefe  fighs  and  groans  ill  all  be  conver 
ted  into  everlafting  Hallelujahs ;  but  a 
very  few  wreary  fteps,  and  the  journey 
of  life  will  be  finifhed.  One  effort 
more  and  I  {hall  have  gained  the  top 
of  the  everlafting  hills,  and  from  yon 
der  bright  fummit,  fhall  prefentlylook 
back  on  the  dangers  I  have  efcaped,  in 
my  travels  through  the  wildernefs. 

Roll  fafteron,  yelingering  minutes! 
the  nearer  my  joys,  the  more  impatient 
I  am  to  feize  them  :  After  thefe  pain 
ful  agonies,  how  greedily  fhall  I  drink 
in  immortal  eafe  and  pleafure  ?  Break 
away,  ye  thick  clouds!  be  gone,  ye 
envious  fhades !  and  let  me  behold  the 
glories  ye  conceal ;  let  me  fee  the  pro- 
mifed  land,  andfurvey  happy  regions, 
I  am  immediately  to  poffefs.  How 
long  will  you  interpofe  beween  me 
and  my  bright  fun?  between  me  and 
the  unclouded  face  of  God  ?  Look  up, 
my  foul !  fee  how  fweetly  thole  reviv 
ing  beaips  break  forth  !  How  they  dif- 

pel 


u8  Devout  Exercifes  XXI. 

pel  the  gloom,  and  gild  the  fhades  of 
death  ! 

O  bleiTed  eternity  !  with  what  a 
chearful  fplendor  doft  thou  dawn  on 
my  foul!  With  theecornes  liberty,  and 
peace,  and  love,  and  endlefs  felicity; 
but  pain  and  forrow,  and  tumult,  and 
death,  and  darknefs,  vanifh  before  thee 
for  ever.  I  am  juft  upon  the  fhores  of 
thofe  happy  realms  where  uninterrupt 
ed  day  and  eternal  fpring  refide  :  Yon 
der  are  deledable  hills,  and  harmoni 
ous  vales,  which  continually  echo  to 
the  fongs  of  angels.  There  the  blifs- 
ful  fields  extend  their  verdure,  and 
there  the  immortal  groves  afcend :  But 
how  dazzling  is  thy  profped:,  O  city  of 
God  !  of  whom  fuch  glorious  things 
are  fpoken.  In  thee  there  fhall  be  no 
more  night,  nor  need  of  the  fun  or 
moon;  for  the  throne  of  God,  and  of 
the  Lamb,  is  in  the  midft  of  thee  ;  and 
the  nations  that  are  faved,  ihall  walk 
in  thy  light,  and  the  kings  of  the  earth 
fhall  bring  there  glory  and  honour  in  to 
thee  ;  and  there  the  glorious  Lord  fhall 
be  to  us  a  place  of  defence,  a  place  of 

ftreams 


XXL  of  the  Heart.  1 1 9 

ftreams  and  broad  rivers  ;  and  the  voice 
of  joy,  and  the  fhout  of  triumph,  fhall 
be  heard  in  thee  for  ever. 

There  holy  fouls  perpetual  Sabbaths  keep, 
And  never  are  concern'd  for  food  or  fleep : 
There  new-come  faints  with  wreaths  of  light  are 

crown'd, 

While  iv'ry  harps  and  filver  trumpets  found : 
There  flaming  feraphs  facred  hymns  begin, 
And  raptur'd  cherubs  loud  refponfes  fing. 

My  eyes  fhall  there  behold  the  King 
in  his  beauty;  and,  oh  how  ravifhing 
will  the  afpefts  of  his  love  be  !  What 
unutterable  ecftafies  fhall  I  feel,  when 
Imeetthofefmiles  which  enlighten  hea 
ven,  and  exhilerate  all  the  celeftial  re 
gions  ;  when  I  fhall  view  the  beatific 
glory,  without  one  interpofing  cloud, 
to  eternity  ;  when  I  fhall  drink  my  fill 
at  the  fountains  of  joy,  and  in  thofe 
rivers  of  pleafure  that  flow  from  his 
right  hand  for  ever ! 


XXII. 


120  Devout  Exercifes       XXII. 

XXII. 

A    devout   Refignation   of  Self  to  the 
Divine  Power  and  Goodnefs. 


All-fufficient  Friend,  my  fhield, 
and  my  exceeding  great  reward  ! 
I  have  enough:  unbounded  avarice  can 
covet  nothing  beyond  thee  ;  the  foul 
whom  thou  doft  not  fuffice,  deferves 
to  be  eternally  poor.  Thou  art  my 
fupreme  happinefs,  my  voluntary 
choice  :  I  took  thy  love  alone  for  my 
treafure,  in  that  bleft  day  when  I  en 
tered  into  covenant  with  thee,  and  be 
come  thine:  I  made  no  articles  with 
thee,  for  the  friendlhips,  the  honours, 
and  pleafures  of  the  world;  but  fo- 
lemnly  renounced  them  all,  and  chofe 
thy  favour  for  my  fingle  inheritance, 
leaving  the  condud:  of  my  life  entirely 
to  thee. 

Thefe  were  my  vows,  and  thefe  I 
have  often  renewed;  and  lhall  I  now 
retrad:  fuch  facred  obligations,  and  al 
ter  a  choice  fo  juft  and  reafonable  ? 
Forbid  it,  Gracious  God  !  let  me  never 

be 


XXII.  of  the  Heart.  141 

be  guilty  of  fuch  madnefs  !  the  world 
has  often  difappointed  my  nioft  confi 
dent  expectations,  but  thou  hall  never 
deceived  me.  In  all  my  diftrefs,  I 
have  found  thee  a  certain  refuge,  my 
ihield,  my  fortrefs,  my  high  tower, 
my  deliverer,  my  rock,  and  he  in  whom 
I  truft.  When  there  was  none  to  fave 
me,  thy  powerful  hand  has  fet  me 
free  :  thou  haft  redreffed  my  grievan 
ces,  and  diflipated  my  fears  ;  thou  haft 
brought  me  light  out  of  obfcurity ,  and 
turned  my  darknefs  into  day. 

When  the  world  could  afford  me 
nothing  but  tempeft  and  diforder,  with 
thee  I  have  found  repofe  and  undiftur- 
bed  tranquillity.  Thou  haft  been  my 
long-experienced  refuge,  my  unfailing 
confidence,  and  I  ftedfaftly  depend  on 
thee  for  my  future  conduct.  1  cannot 
err  when  guided  by  infinite  wifdom  j  I 
muft  be  fafe  in  the  arms  of  eternal  love, 
to  which  I  humbly  refign  myfelf. 
Let  inehave  riches  or  poverty,  honour 
or  contempt :  whatever  comes  from  thy 
hands  Ihall  be  thankfully  received.  I 
L  would 


1 2  2  Devout  Exercifes        XXII. 

would  hear  no  voice  but  thine,  nor 
make  a  flep  but  where  1  am  following 
thee. 

If  thou  wouldft  leave  rne  to  chufe 
for  myfelf,  I  would  refign  the  choice 
again  to  thee.  I  dread  nothing  more 
than  the  guidance  of  my  own  blind  de- 
fires  ;  I  tremble  at  the  thoughts  of  fuch 
a  fatal  liberty  :  Avert,  Gracious  God  J, 
that  miferable  freedom.  Thpu  forefeeft 
all  events,  and  at  one  {ingle  view  dolt 
look  through  eternal  confequences; 
therefore  do  thou  determine  my  circum- 
ilances,  not  to  gratify  my  own  wild 
defires,  but  to  advance  thy  glory. 

Thou  haft  an  unqueftioned  right  to 
difpofe  of  me;  1  am  thine  by  neceflary 
ties  and  voluntary  engagements,  which 
I  thankfully  acknowledge,  and  folemn- 
]y  renew.  Deliberately  and  entirely  I 
j>at  my  felf  into  thy  hands.  Whatever 
intereft  I  have  in  this  world,  I  facrifice 
to  thee;  and  leave  my  deareft  enjoy 
ments  to  thy  difpofal,  acknowledging 
it  my  greateft  happinefs  to  be  guided 
by  thee, 

Lord  ! 


XXII.  of  the  Heart.  123 

Lord!  what  is  man  that  thouart  mind 
ful  of  him  ?  that  thou  who  art  fupreme- 
ly  bleffed,  and  independently  happy, 
fhouldft  concern  thyfelf  with  human 
affairs,  and  condefcend  to  make  our 
wants  as  much  thy  care,  as  if  mortal 
miferies  could  reach  thee,  and  inter 
rupt  immortal  bleffednefs  ?  Thou 
wouldft  make  us  fenfible  of  thine  in 
dulgence  by  the  inoft  tender  fimili- 
tudes :  A  father's  gentle  care  but  faint 
ly  fhadows  thine,  and  all  we  can  con 
ceive  of  human  pity  falls  fhort  of  thy 
compaffion.  Thou  doft  feem  to  fhare 
in  our  calamities,  and  fympathize  in 
all  our  griefs.  No  friend  flies  to  our 
affiftance  with  half  the  fpeed  that  love 
brings  thee,  nor  canftthou  ever  want 
methods  to  relieve  thofe  that  confide 
in  thee, 

Thy  providence  finds  or  makes  its 
way  through  all  oppofitions :  The 
ftreams  (hall  roll  back  to  their  foun 
tains:  the  fun  fliall  ftand  ftill,  and  the 
courfe  of  nature  be  reverfed,  rather 
than  thou  want  means  to  bring  thy 
purpofes  to  pafs.  No  ohftacle  puts  a 

ftand 


124  Devout  Exercifes         XXII. 

ftand  to  thy  deiigns,  nor  obftruds  thy 
methods :  'Tis  thy  will  that  makes 
nature  and  neceiTity.  Who  can  flay 
thy  hand?  or  fay  untothee,  what  doit 
thou?  Thy  counfel  fhall  ftand,  and 
thou  wilt  do  all  thy  pleafure.  Nothing 
is  impoffible  for  thee  to  accompfifli. 
Wherever  1  caft  mine  eyes,  I  fee  in- 
Jlances  of  thy  power.  The  extended 
firmament,  the  fun  and  ftars,  tell  me 
what  thou  art  able  toperform ;  they  atteft 
thy  omnipotence,  and  rebuke  my  un 
belief.  The  whole  creation  pleads  for 
ihee,  and  condemns  my  infidelity. 

Almighty  God  !  forgive  my  diffi 
dence,  while  I  confefs  it  is  mort  inex- 
cufable.  Thy  hand  is  not  (hortened, 
nor  are  the  fprings  of  thy  bounty  feal- 
edj  thy  ancient  miracles  have  not  ex- 
haufted  thy  flrength,  nor  hath  perpet- 
ual  beneficence  impoverlihed  thee ;  thy 
power  remains  undiminifhed,  and  thy 
mercy  endureth  for  ever.  That  daz 
zling  attribute  furrounds  me  with 
tranfporting  glories.  Which  way  fo- 
ever  I  turn,  I  meet  the  bright  convicti 
on.  1  cannot  recal  a  day  of  my  paft  life, 

on 


X  X 1 1 .  of  the  Heart.  1 25 

on  which  fome  fignature  of  thy  good- 
nefs  is  not  ftamped. 

Oh !  who  hath  tailed  of  thy  clemency, 
In  greater  meafure,  or  more  oft,  than  I  ? 
Which  way  foe'er  I  turn  my  face  or  feet, 
I  fee  thy  mercy,  and  thy  glory  meet. 

In  whatever  thou  haft  granted,  or 
whatever  thou  haft  denied  me,  thy  be 
neficence  has  been  mingled  with  every 
difpenfation ;  thou  haft  not  taken  the 
advantage  of  my  follies,  nor  been  fe- 
vere  to  my  fins ;  but  haft  remembered 
my  frame,  and  treated  me  with  the  ut- 
moft  indulgence.  Glory  be  to  thy 
name  for  ever. 

XXIII, 

'Redeeming  Love. 

A  Lmighty  love,  the  theme  of  every 
heavenly  fong  !  Infinite  grace,  the 
wonder  of  angels  !  forgive  a  mortal 
tongue  that  attempts  thy  praife ;  and 
yet,  fhould  man  be  filent,  the  mute 
creation  would  find  a  voice  to  upbraid 
him, 

L  3  But, 


1 2  6          Devout  Exercifes          XXIII. 

But,  oh !  in  what  language  fhall 
I  fpeak  ?  with  what  circumftance  ihall 
]  begin  ?  Shall  I  rollback  the  volumes 
of  eternity,  and  begin  with  the  glorious 
defign  that  determined  man's  redemp 
tion,  before  the  birth  of  time,  before 
the  confines  of  creation  were  fixed  ? 

Infinite  years  before  the  day 
Or  heavens  began  to  roil  ? 

Shall  I  fpeak  in  general  of  all  the  na 
tions  of  the  redeemed  ?  or,  to  excite  my 
own  gratitude,  fliall  I  confider  myfelf, 
my  worthlefs  felf,  included,  by  an 
eternal  decree,  among  the  number  of 
thofe  who  (ho  uld  hear  of  a  Redeem 
er's  name,  and  be  marked  out  a  par 
taker  of  that  immenfe  privilege  ?  Be 
fore  the  foundation  of  the  hills  were 
laid,  the  gracious  defign  was  formed  ; 
and  the  bleffed  plan  of  it  fchemed 
out,  before  the  curtains  of  the  iky  were 
fpread. 

Lord  !•  what  is  man  ?  what  am  I  ? 
what  is  all  the  human  race,  to  be  thus 
regarded?  O  narrow  thoughts,  and 
narrower  words!  Here  confefs  your 

defeats. 


XXIII,  oftheHeart  127 

defeats.  Thefe  are  heights  not  to  be 
reached  by  you.  Adoftible  meafurcs 
of  infinite  clemency !  Unfearchable 
riches  of  grace  !  With  what  aftonifli- 
ment  do  1  furvey  you  !  I  am  fwallowed 
and  loft  in  the  glorious  immenfity. 
All  hail,  ye  divine  myfteries,  ye  glo 
rious  paths  of  the  unfearchable  Deity  ! 
Let  me  adore,  tho'  I  can  never  exprefs 
you. 

Yet,  iliould  I  be  filent,  heaven  and 
earth,  nay  hell  itfelf,  would  reproach 
me  :  The  damned  themfelves  would 
call  me  ungrateful,  fhould  I  fail  to 
celebrate  that  grace  wrhofe  lofs  they 
are  for  ever  lamenting,  a  lofs  that  leaves 
them  for  ever  defperate  and  undone. 
3Tis  this  grace  which  tunes  the  harps  of 
heaven,  and  yields  them  an  immortal 
fubjeit  of  harmony  and  praife.  The 
fpirits  of  juft  men  made  prefect,  fix 
their  contemplations  here  :  They  a- 
dore  the  glorious  myftery ;  and  while 
they  fing  the  wonders  of  redeeming 
love,  they  afcribe  fublime  and  living 
honours  to  him  that  fits  on  the  throne, 
and  to  the  Lamb  for  ever.  And  in 
finitely 


1 2  8          Devout  Exercijes         X  X 1 1 L 

finitely  worthy  art  thou,  O  Lord!  to 
receive  the  grateful  homage.  Who  (hall 
not  praife  and  magnify  thy  name?  Who 
fhall  deny  the  tribute  of  thy  glory  ? 

But,  alas !  what  can  mortal  man 
add  to  thee  ?  what  can  nothingnefs 
and  vanity  give?  We  murmur  from 
duft,  and  attempt  thy  praife  from  the 
depths  of  mifery ;  yet  thou  doft  con- 
defcend  to  hear  and  liften  to  our  broken 
accents  :  Amidft  the  Hallelujahs  of 
angels,  our  groans  afcend  to  thee,  our 
complaints  reach  thee :  From  the 
height  of  thy  happinefs,  and  from  the 
exaltationsof  thy  eternal  glory, thou  haft 
a  regard  to  man, --poor,  wretched  man ! 
Thou  received  his  homage  with  de 
light;  hispraifes  mingle  with  the  har 
mony  of  angels  ,  nor  interrupt  the 
facred  concord.  Thofe  natives  of  hea 
ven,  thofe  morning-jftars  fing  together 
in  their  heavenly  beatitudes, nor difdain 
to  let  the  fons  of  earth  and  mortality 
join  with  them  in  celebrating  the  ho 
nours  of  Jefus,  their  Lord  and  cur's  : 
To  him  be  every  tongue  devoted,  and 
let  every  creature  for  ever  praife  him* 
Amen.  XXIV* 


XXIV.  of  the  Heart.  129 

XXIV. 

Pleading  for  Pardon  and  Holinefs. 

TMmortal  fpring  of  life,  the  fountain 
**  of  ail  exigence,  the  firft  and  laft, 
without  beginning  of  days  or  end  of 
years  !  before  the  heavens  were  created , 
thou  waft,  and  flialt  remain  unchanged 
while  they  wax  old  and  decay  Thou 
art  infinitely  bleffed  in  thyfelf,  thy 
glory  admits  of  no  addition;  the  praifes 
of  angels  cannot  heighten  thy  happi- 
nefs,  nor  the  blafphemies  of  hell  dimi- 
niih  it :  Thou  canft  do  everything, 
and  thy  power  finds  no  obftacle  :  Thou 
rnadeft  heaven  and  earth,  the  fea,  and 
the  fountains  of  water :  Thou  doit 
according  to  thy  will  in  the  armies  of 
heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of « 
the  earth  :  Thou  holdeft  the  waters  in 
the  hollow  of  thy  hand,  and  meafureft 
out  the  heavens  with  a  fpan :  Thou 
comprehended  the  duft  of  the  earth  in 
a  meafure,  and  weigheft  the  mountains 
in  fcales,  and  the  hills  in  a  balance  : 

Thou 


130  Devout  Exercjfes       XXIV. 

Thou  covered  thyfelf  with  light  as 
with  a  garment  and  art  furrounded  with 
inacceflihle  fplendor :  Thou  art  glori 
ous  in  holinefs,  fearful  in  praifes  : 
The  heavens  are  not  clean  in  thy  fight, 
and  thou  chargeft  thine  angels  with 
folly.  What  then  is  man,  that  drinks 
in  iniquity  like  water  ?  What  is  man 
that  thou  art  mindful  of  him,  or  the 
fon  of  man  that  thou  doft  thus  vifit 
him?  *Tis  becaufe  thou  art  good,  and 
thy  mercy  endureth  forever.  Mercy  is 
thy  prevailing  attribute.  Thou  art 
compaflionate  and  infinitely  gracious, 
and  haft  fully  manifefted  thy  love  and 
beneficence  to  the  race  of  man,  in  the 
glorious  methods  of  our  redemption 
from  everlafting  bondage  and  death, 
by  thy  fon  Jefus. 

Therefore,  with  theloweft  reverence, 
and  moft  humble  gratitude,  I  defire  to 
proftrate  myfelf  before  thee,  acknow 
ledging  it  my  greateft  honour  and  un- 
deferved  privilege,  to  approach  the 
Lord,  and  bow  myfelf  before  the  high 
God  j  I  that  am  unworthy  to  utter  thy 
tremendous  name,  or  once  to  lift  up 

mine 


XXIV.          of  the  Hear f.  131 

mine  eyes  to  heaven.  To  my  own 
confuflon  I  here  confefs  I  have  abufed 
the  mercy  which  I  now  implore,  and 
injured  that  goodnefs  and  forbearance 
by  my  (ins  which  I  am  now  addreffing 
myielf  to.  I  have  forfeited  the  very 
benefits  I  aik,  and  defpifed  thofefacred 
privileges  which  I  am  forced  to  plead  ; 
I  can  ufe  fcarce  any  motive,  but  what 
wx)uld  carry  in  it  my  own  condemna 
tion.  Shall  I  implore  thy  mercy  by  the 
gracious  terms  of  the  new  covenant, 
fealed  by  the  blood  of  thy  eternal  Son  ? 
Alas !  that  gracious  covenant  I  have 
violated,  and  profaned  its  facred 
feals :  I  have  finned  againft  the  cleareft 
light,  and  the  tendereft  inftances  of 
love  :  I  have  not  only  broken  my  ob 
ligations  to  thee  as  my  Creator,  but  the 
flronger  engagements  of  thy  adoption, 
even  the  glorious  privilege  of  being  ad 
mitted  into  thy  family,  and  numbered 
among  the  children  of  God. 

But  ftill  thofe  very  circumftances 
that  aggravate  my  guilt,  exalt  thy  mer 
cy.  Here  the  freenefs  and  magnifi 
cence  of  thy  grace  will  difplay  itfelf ; 

here 


132  Devout  Exercjfes      XXIV. 

here  thou  wilt  anfwer  the  indulgent  title 
of  a  father  in  its  tendereft  extent ;  I 
have  no  fins  too  great  for  infinite  cle 
mency  to  pardon.  Thou  art  God,  and 
not  man  ;  and  as  the  heavens  are  high 
above  the  earth,  fo  high  are  thy  ways 
of  compaflion  above  all  human  me 
thods. 

I  dare  not fet  bounds  to  thy  goodnefs, 
nor  affirm  that  thus  far,  and  no  farther, 
divine  patience  extends.  Thou  haft 
pardoned  and  reflored  me  to  thy  favour 
too  often  for  me  now  to  defpair  :  My 
penitent  fighs  were  never  rejected,  nor 
my  humble  requeftsunafwered:  I  have^ 
always  found  the  heavens  open,  and 
the  throne  of  God  acceffible,  through 
the  blood  of  a  Redeemer.  By  his  ag 
ony  and  bloody  fweat,  by  his  crofs  and 
paffion,  by  his  painful  death,  and  glo 
rious  refurredtion,  I  implore  thy  par 
don  :  he  has  made  a  full  atonement, 
and  divine  juftice  will  demand  no  far 
ther  fatisfaction.  To  him  give  all  the 
prophets  witnefs,  that,  through  his 
name,  whofoever  believes  in  his  name, 
fhall  receive  remiffion  of  fins. 

a  O 


XXIV.  oftheHeart.  133 

O  blefled  Jefus,  the  hope  of  the  Gen 
tiles,  the  falvation  of  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  the  great  Meffiah,  the  promifed 
Saviour,  who  doft  anfwer  thefe  glorious 
titles  in  their  utmoft  iignification !  To 
thee,  my  certain,  my  experienced  re 
fuge,  I  fly  !  O  Son  of  God,  here  me  ! 
O  Lamb  of  God,  who  takeft  away  the 
fins  of  the  world,  have  mercy  on  me ! 

O  Eternal  Spirit,  the  promifed  Com 
forter,  come  with  all  thy  facred  confo- 
lations!  Come,  and  be  as  dew  to  the 
drooping  flowers,  as  rain  to  the  parch 
ed  ground!  Oh!  come  with  thy  re 
viving  light,  and  difpell  the  darknefs 
that  be-clouds  my  foul :  Break  in  like 
the  fun,  after  a  melancholy  night;  one 
beam  of  thine  would  melt  this  frozen, 
this  obdurate  heart,  and  kindle  in  my 
foul  the  fpark  of  holy  love  :  Breathe  up 
on  my  cold  affe&ions,  and  raife  them 
to  a  facred  flame. 

Searcher  of  hearts,  from  whom  no 
thing  is  concealed,  whofe  penetrating 
eyes  find  out  hypocrify  in  its  darkeft 
difguife  1  Thou  knoweft  the  defires  of 
my  foul,  and  art  my  impartial  witneft 
M  tnat 


134  Devout  Exercifes      XXIV. 

that  I  kneel  not  here  for  the  riches  and 
honours  of  the  world  ;  that  I  arn  not 
proftrate  before  thee  for  length  of  days 
or  pleafiire;  but  that  it  is  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  the  righteoufnefs  thereof, 
that  I  feek.  Give  me  not  my  portion 
with  the  rich  and  great,  but  let  me  have 
jny  humble  lot  with  thy  children:  let 
me  bear  contempt  and  derifion,  and 
fuffer  reproach  with  the  people  of  God, 
rather  than  enjoy  the  pleafures  of  fin, 
which  are  but  for  a  feafon. 

Thy  favour  is  the  end  of  all  my 
wifhes,  the  conftantfubjecl  of  my  pray 
er.  Oh !  thou  whofe  ears  are  open  to 
the  wrants  of  all  thy  creatures,  who 
heareft  the  young  ravens  when  they  cry 
from  their  nefls  to  thee,  who  givefl 
the  men  of  the  world  the  traniitory 
things  they  chufe !  wilt  thou  deny  the 
defires  which  thou  thyfelf  doft  infpire 
and  approve  ?  O  let  me  be  filled  with 
that  righteoufnefs  which  1  hunger  and 
thirft  after,  and  be  fatisfied  with  thy 
likenefs!  Thoucanftnot  be  diminifhed 

by 


XXIV.  of  the  Heart. 

by  whatever  perfection  thou  doft  com 
municate  to  the  creature  j  endlefs  libe 
rality  could  not  make  thee  poor. 

I  afk  not  privileges  above  the  capa 
city  of  my  nature,  nor  afpire  to  the 
perfections  of  angels  :  I  only  beg  that 
I  may  reach  thofe  heights  of  holinefs 
and  divine  love,  which  fouls  inverted 
with  a  mortal  body  like  mine,  and  in- 
cumbered  with  the  fame  human  paf- 
fions ,  have  attained .  But  in  vain  I  ftrive 
to  imitate  thofe  brightexamples  thou  haft 
fet  before  me;  without  thy  affiftance, 
all  my  endeavours  will  prove  fuccefslefs. 
Thou  know  eft  the  frailty  of  my  nature, 
and  the  mighty  difficulties  I  have  to  en 
counter  :  I  have  not  only  the  allurements 
of  the  world,  but  all  the  ftratagems  of 
hell  to  engage  with  ;  and  a  treacherous 
heart  within,  ready  on  all  occafions  to 
betray  me  into  fin  and  endlefs  perditi 
on  ;  O  let  my  impotence  and  danger 
awaken  thy  compallion  ! 

Remember  thy  former  benignity,  O 
Lord !  and  let  that  engage  thee  to  grant 
new  fupplies  of  that  grace,  by  which 
alone  I  fhall  prove  victorious.  Thy 

bounty 


1 3  6  Devout  Exercifcs         XXIV. 

bounty  to  any  of  the  works  of  thy 
hands,  muft  always  flow  from  the  good- 
nefs  of  thy  own  nature  ;  for  what  crea 
ture  can  pretend  to  merit  .my  thing  from 
thee  ?  I  would  urge  nothing  but  thy 
own  infinite  mercy,  when  1  entreat 
thee  not  to  let  me  periih,  after  the  won 
derful  things  thou  haft  done  for  my 
foul.  After  all  the  pledges  thou  haft 
given  me  of  thy  love,  let  not  my  follies 
provoke  thee  to  forfake  me ;  but  re 
member  thy  covenant,  and  its  graci 
ous  articles,  and  a6t  according  to  thy 
own  ineffable  benignity,  which  has 
been  the  glorious  motive  of  every  fa 
vour  I  have  received  from  thee. 

XXV. 

A  Tranfpwttf  Gratitude forfievingmercy. 

Blefs  a  thoufand  times  the  happy 
day,  when  firft  a  beam  of  heaven 
ly  light  broke  in  on  my  foul :  when 
theday-ftar  from  on  high  vilited  me, 
and  the  celeftial  light  began  to  dawn, 
I  welcomed  its  chearful  luftre,  and  felt 

the 


X  X  V .  of  IDC  tieart.  I  3,7 

the  facred  influence  ;  the  flames  of  ho 
ly  love  awoke,  and  holy  joys  were 
kindled. 

The  earth,  and  all  its  pageantry, 
difappeared  like  clouds  before  the  mor 
ning-fun  :  The  fcenes  of  paradife 

were  opened feraphicpleafures,  and 

unutterable  delights.  All-hail,  I  cri 
ed,  you  unknown  joys,  you  unexpe 
rienced  pleafures !  compared  to  you 
what  is  all  I  have  relifhed,  till  now? 
what  is  earthly  beauty  and  harmony  ? 
what  is  all  that  mortals  call  charming 
and  attractive?  I  never  lived  till  now  : 
I  knew  no  more  than  the  name  of  hap- 
pinefs  till  now  :  I  have  been  in  a  dream 
during  all  the  days  of  my  folly  and 
vanity ;  but  now  1  awake  to  the  life 
of  heaven-born  fpirits,  and  tafte  the 
joys  of  angels. 


M  3  XXVL 


1 3  8  Devout  Exercijes         XXVI. 

XXVI. 

Importunate   Reauejls  for  the  Return  of 
God  to  the  Soul. 

THOU  great  and  glorious,  thou  in- 
viilble  and  univerfal  Being !  art 
thou  no  nearer  to  be  approached  ?  or 
do  I  fearch  thee  amifs  ?  Is  there  a 
corner  of  the  creation  unvifited  by  thee, 
or  any  place  exempt  from  thy  pre  fence? 
I  trace  thy  footfteps  through  heaven 
and  earth,  but  I  cannot  overtake  thee. 

Why  do  I  feek  thee,  if  thou  art  not  here  ? 
Or  find  thee  not,  if  thou  art  every  where  ? 

Tell  me,  O  my  God,  and  my  All ! 
tell  me  where  thou  art  to  be  found  ; 
for  there  is  the  place  of  my  reft.  What 
imaginable  good  can  fupply  thy  ab- 
fence  ?  Deprived  of  thee,  all  that  the 
world  can  offer  w7ould  be  like  a  jeft  to 
a  dying  man,  and  provoke  my  aver- 
lion  and  difdain.  'Tis  a  God  that  I 

feek: 

My 


XXVI.  of  the  Heart.  1 3  9 

My  \vifhes  (loop  not  to  a  lower  aim; 
Thou,  then  haft  kindled  this  immortal  flam  \ 
Which  nothing  can  allay. 

Adieu,  adieu  to  all  human  things  ! 
Let  me  find  my  God,  the  end  of  all  my 
wiflies  :  Why  doftthou  keep  back  the 
face  of  thy  throne  1  Why  does  the 
cloud  and  facred  darknefs  conceal 
thee  ? 

Thy  voice  produc'd  the  feas  and  fpheres, 
Bid  the  waves  roll,  and  planets  iliine  , 

But  nothing  like  thyfelf  appears, 

Thro'  ail  theie  various  works  of  thine. 

O  thou  fairer  than  all  the  works  of 
thy  hands  !  wilt  thou  ever  hide  thyfelf 
from  a  creature  that  loves  and  feeks 
thee  with  fo  intenfe  deiire  ?  I  appeal 
to  thee,  O  Lord  !  are  not  my  breath 
ings  after  thee  more  hearty  and  un 
feigned  ?  Does  not  my  foul  pant  after 
thee,  with  a  fervour  which  cannot  be 
extinguifhed,  and  a  fincerity  which 
cannot  be  difguifed  ? 

For  thee  I  pine,  and  am  for  thee  undone, 

As  drooping  flow'rs  that  want  their  parent  fun, 

HOWT  do  my  fpirits  languiih  for  thee  ! 

No 


1 40  Devout  Exercifcs        X  X  V  f . 

No  fimilitudes  can  exprefs  the  vehe 
mence  of  my  delires:  Wealth  and  glory, 
friends  and  pleafure,  lofe  their  names, 
compared  to  thee.  To  follow  thee,  I 
would  leave  them  all  behind  :  I  would 
leave  the  whole  creation,  and  bid  the 
fields  and  fparkling  fkies  adieu.  Let 
the  heavens  and  earth  be  no  more; 
while  thou  endureft  for  ever,  I  can 
want  no  fupport.  My  being  itfelf, 
with  all  its  bleffednefs,  depends  entire 
ly  on  thee. 

Place  me  far  from  the  bounds  of  all 
creation,  remote  from  all  exigence  but 
thy  own  ;  in  that  ineffable  follitude  let 
me  be  loft,  let  me  expatiate  there  for 
ever,  let  me  run  the  endlefs  rounds  of 

blifs. But,  alas  !  I  flatter  myfelf,  in 

vain,  with  fcenes  of  unattainable  hap- 
pinefs.  I  will  fearchthee,  then,  where 
1  hope  thou  may  eft  be  found.  I  caft 
my  eyes  to  the  bright  regions  above, 
a«nd  almoft  envy  the  happy  beings  that 
fee  thy  face  unveil'd  :  I  fearch  thee  in 
the  flowery  meadows,  and  liften  for 
thee  among  the  murmuring  fprings  : 
Then  iilent  and  abftra&ed  from  hu 
man 


XXVI.          of  the  Heart.  141 

man  things,  I  fearch  thee  in  holy  con 
templation.  'Tis  all  in  vain.  Nor 
fields,  nor  floods,  nor  clouds,  nor 
ilars,  reveal  thee. 

Ye  happy  fpirits,  that  meet  his 
fmiles,  and  hear  his  voice!  dired:  a 
mournful  wanderer,  while  I  feek  him 
whom  my  foul  loves.  While  I  figh 
and  complain,  and  cart  my  languifh- 
ing  eyes  to  yonder  happy  inaniions, 
fain  would  I  penetrate  the  ftarry  pavil- 
lions,  and  look  thro>  the  fepanvt ing  fir 
mament.  Oh,  that  thou  wouldft  di 
vide  the  clouds,  that  thou  wouldft  rend 
the  heavens,  and  give  me  one  ginnpfe 
of  thy  glory!  that  thou  wouldlt  difplay 
thy  beauty  ;  and  in  the  midfl  of  thefe 
earthly  fcenes  of  amufing  vanity,  give 
me  one  moment's  interval  of  celeflial 
bleflednefs ! 

One  look,  of  mercy  from  thy  eye, 

One  whifper  of  thy  voice, 
Exceed  a  whole  eternity 

Employed  in  carnal  joys. 

Could  I  the  fpacions  earth  command, 
Or  the  more  boundlefs  fea  j 

For 


1 42  Devout  Exercifcs       XXVI. 

For  one  dear  hour  at  thy  right-hand, 
Pd  give  them  both  away. 

If  things  were  put  into  juft  balances, 
and  computed  aright,  for  the  firft  mo 
ment  of  this  fatisfadtion,  I  am  ready 
to  fay,  the  whole  creation  would  be 
cheaply  loft  :  How  gladly  would  I  re- 
iign  all  for  fuch  a  blifs  !  Adieu  to  hu 
man  things  ;  let  me  find  my  God,  the 
end  of  all  my  wriilies  :  *Tis  he  whom 
I  ftek,  'tis  he  alone  who  can  fatisfy 
my  infinite  defires.  Oh  !  why  doft 
thou  withdraw  ?  why  thus  long  con 
ceal  thyfelf  ?  where  doft  thou  retire  ? 
Nor  earth,  nor  heaven,  reply  to  my 
repeated  calls. 

Let  me  invoke  thee  by  every  graci 
ous  title,  My  God,  and  the  God  of 
my  fathers:  From  one  generation  to 
another  thou  haft  been  our  dwelling 
place:  the  claim  has  defcended  from 
age  to  age;  thy  covenant  has  been  e- 
ftablifhed  with  us,  and  thy  faithful- 
nefs  remains  unblemilhed.  Oh  !  for 
get  not  thy  convenant,  forget  not  the 
bleffings  entailed  on  me  ?  forget  not 

the 


XXVI.  of  the  Heart.  143 

the  prayers  and  tears  by  which  my  pi 
ous  anceftors  have  engaged  thy  mercy 
for  me;  forget  not  their  vows,  and 
folemn  dedication  of  me  to  thee  :  Oh  ! 
recall  thy  ancient  favours,  and  renew 
thy  former  mercy  to  a  family  which 
has  been  thine  in  a  fucceffion  of  ages. 
Let  me  invoke  thee  now  by  a  nearer 
property  :  My  convenant  God,  my 
Father,  and  my  Friend  !  If  by  all 
thofe  tender  names  I  have  ever  known 
thee,  forget  me  not.  By  thofe  facred 
engagements,  O  Lord  !  I  entreat  thy 
return.  If  all  thy  paft  favours  were 
real,  if  all  was  waking  blifs,  and  not  a 
gay  delufion,  O  reftore  my  heaven  a- 
gain.  Life  of  my  foul,  Light  of  my 
eyes,  return  ;  Come,  and  bring  all  thy 
facred  confolations  :  once  again  let  me 
experience  thofe  holy  joys  that  thy  pre- 
fence  imparts  j  once  again  let  me  hear 
thy  voice,  arid  once  again  be  bleft  with 
thy  fmiles. 

Oh,  hear !  and  to  my  longing  eyes 

Reftore  thy  wonted  light ; 
And  fuddenly,  or  I  fliall  fleep 
In  everlafling  night. 

BlefTed 


1 44  Devout  Exercifes       XXVI. 

BleiTed  Saviour  I  in  thee  we  behold 
the  face  of  God  as  a  reconciled  father  : 
And  doft  thou  withdraw  thyfelf  ?  Oh 
how  welcome  will  thy  returns  be !  How 
like  the  breakings  of  immortal  day, 
will  thy  pre fence  chear  me !  How  dear 
ly  fhall  1  prize  my  happinefs  !  How 
fearful  fhall  I  be  of  every  thing  that 
would  offend  thee  !  How  joyful  in  the 
bleffed  difcovery,  and  poffeflion  of  thy 
love  !  I'd  whifper  my  blifs  to  the  lift- 
ening  ftreams  and  groves  : 

I'd  carve  thy  paffion  on  the  bark  *, 

And  every  wounded  tree 
Shall  droop,  and  bear  fbme  myrtle  mark^ 

That  Jefus  died  for  me. 

The  fwains  fhall  wonder  when  they  read, 

Infcrib'd  on  all  the  grove. 
That  heaven  itfelf  came  down,  and  bled, 

To  win  a  mortal's  love. 

But  why  do  I  flatter  myfelf  with 
thefe  delightful  fcenes  ?  1  find  thee  ab- 
fent  ftill :  I  mourn  and  complain  as 
one  unpitied.  What  is  life,  while 
thou  art  abfent  ?  Oh,  return  and  blifs 
me  with  thy  prefence,  thou  who  know- 
eft  my  diftreffes,  and  art  acquainted 

with 


XXVI.  of  the  Heart.  145 

with  my  fccret  cares  :  Thou  who  art 
the  witnefs  of  my  midnight  iighs,  and 
doft  hear  when  at  the  dawning  day  I 
call  thee;  but  ftill  thou  anfwereft  not, 
and  feemeft  deaf  to  my  prayers.  I  am, 
it  is  true,  a  wonhlefs  wretch  :  but, 
vile  as  I  am,  thou  haft,  in  thy  immenfe 
compaffion,  brought  me  into  covenant 
with  thee  :  My  beloved  is  mine,  and 
I  am  his. 

He  is  my  fun,  though  he  refufe  to  (liine  \ 
Though  for  a  moment  he  depart, 
I  dv/ell  for  ever  on  his  heart, 
For  ever  he  on  mine. 

Nothing  can  break  the  facred  union. 
But  for  this  confidence,  I  were  un 
done;  but  for  this  beam  of  hope,  I 
were  loft  in  eternal  darknefs.  Why 
art  thou  difquieted,  O  my  foul !  and 
why  art  thou  caft  down  within  me  ? 
Hope  in  God,  for  I  (hall  yet  praife 
him  for  the  light  of  his  countenance; 
I  fhall  yet  welcome  his  return:  I  fhall 
yet  hear  his  charming  voice,  and  meet 
his  favourable  fmiles. 

But  why,  O  my  God  !  this  long 
N  fufpenfe  ? 


146  Devout  Exerctfes     XXVL 

fufpenfe  ?  Why  do  thefe  intervals  of 
night  and  darknefs  abide  upon  me, 
and  torment  my  heart  fo  long  ?  Wilt 
thou  deny  a  blifs  fo  eafily  granted  ?  I 
afk  not  more  than  is  lawful  for  mor 
tality  to  wifh  :  I  aik  not  the  viiions  of 
angels  here  below  ;  nor  the  beatitudes 
of  perfected  fpirits :  I  aik  but  \vhat 
thou  haft  bid  me  feek,  and  given  me 
hopes  to  obtain;  I  aik  that  facred  fel- 
lowfhip,  that  ineffable  communion, 
with  which  thou  favoureft  thy  faints. 
Oh  !  let  me  hear  thefe  heavenly 
whifpers,  that  give  them  the  foretaftes 
of  immortal  pleafures :  Let  me  be 
fenfible  of  thofe  divine  approaches ,  that 
kindle  celeftial  ardour  in  their  fouls. 
Let  me  meet  thofe  beams,  that  darken 
all  mortal  beauty  :  Let  me  enjoy,  at 
this  earthly  diftance,  thofe  fmiles  that 
are  the  blifs  of  angels  in  heaven. 
Though  it  is  but  darkly,  and  afar  off, 
yet  let  me  feel  their  influence  ;  it  will 
brighten  the  paffage  of  life  ;  it  will  di- 
re£l  me  through  its  mazes,  and  gild 
its  rough  and  gloomy  paths  :  It  will 
raife  the  flames  of  facred  love ;  it  will 


waken 


XXVII.  of  the  Heart.  147 

waken  the  divine  principle  within  me, 
and  fet  it  a  glowing  through  all  my 
powers.  I  abandon,  I  fhall  forget  the 
vanities  below,  and  the  glories  of  the 
world  will  be  no  more.  But  while 
thou,  O  my  God  !  hideft  thy  face,  I 
lofemyfun,  I  languish,  and  die  :  Yet 
to  thee  I  will  lift  up  my  eyes ;  to  thee 
I  lift  up  my  foul. 

Come,  Lord  1  and  never  from  me  go  \ 
This  world's  a  darkfome  place  ; 

I  find  no  pleafure  here  below, 
When  thou  cloft  veil  thy  face. 

XXVIL 

Breathing  after  GOD,  and  weary  of  the 
world. 


T 

I  faint 


IIS  no  mean  beauty  of  the  ground, 

That  has  allured  mine  eyes  j 
beneath  a  nobler  wound, 
Nor  love  below  the  ikies. 


If  words  can  reach  the  heights  of 
love  and  gratitude,  let, me  pour  out 
the  fecret  ardour  of  my  foul.  O  let  it 
not  offend  thy  grcatnefs,  that  duft  and 

vanity 


1 4  8          Devout  Exercifes       XXVII. 

vanity  adore  and  love  thee.  If  thou 
haft  given  me  other  capacities,  and 
formed  any  thing  more  Suitable  to  my 
wifhes,  I  might  have  found  a  lower 
happinefs,  and  been  content  with 
fomething  below  the  infinite  deity  ; 
but  the  f canty  creation  affords  nothing 
to  fatisfy  me,  and  I  follow  thee  by  a 
divine  inftindt,  and  mere  neceility  of 
nature. 

My  life  is  ufelefs,  and  my  being  in- 
fignificant,  without  thee :  My  reafon 
has  no  proper  employment  j  love,  the 
nobleft  paffion  of  my  foul,  has  no  ob- 
jecft  to  anfwer  its  dignity.  I  am  redu 
ced  to  abfolute  poverty ;  my  nature  is 
ruined;  I  am  loft,  eternally  loft,  un 
done,  and  abandoned  to  defpair,  if  I 
am  deprived  of  thee.  There  can  be  no 
reparation  made  for  an  infinite  lofs; 
nothing  -cap  be  iniread  of  God  to  my 
foul. 

I  have  willingly  renounced  all  things 
elfe  for  thy  lake  :  All  the  fentiments 
of  tendernefs  and  delight,  that  my 
foul  ever  feels  for  an  earthly  objed:, 
is  mere  indifference,  compared  to  my 

love 


XXVII.          of  the  Heart.  149 

love  for  thee  ;  and  it  grows  into  ha 
tred,  when  that  object  ftands  as  my  ri 
val  or  competitor.  This  is  the  con 
quering,  the  fuperior  flame,  that 
draws  in,  and  f wallows  up,  all  the 
other  ardors  of  my  nature.  My  en 
gagements  with  all  terreftrial  things 
are  broken ;  the  names  of  father,  of 
brother,  or  of  friend,  are  no  more: 
Abftradfted  from  thee,  thefe  tender  ti 
tles  give  me  neither  confidence  nor 
joy,  and  are  mere  iniignificant  names  ; 
but  as  thou  doftgive  them  an  emphafis, 
they  are  nothing  at  all  without  thee; 
what  finite  good  can  be  an  addition  ? 

The  foul  can  hold  no  more,  for  God  is  all ; 
He  only  equals  its  capacious  grafp, 
He  only  overfills  to  fpaces  infinite.  * 

Thou  art  my  God ;  and  I  have  e- 
nough,  my  foul  is  fatisfied.  I  am  en 
tirely  at  reft.  Divide  the  vain,  the 
periihing  creation,  to  the  miferable 
wretches  that  aik  no  otherportion  :  Let 
them,  unenvied,  poffefs  the  honours, 
and  riches,  and  pleafures  of  the 
world ;  with  a  laviih  hand  divide  them 
N  3  away  : 


150         Devout  Exercifes       XX VI I. 

away  :  Thcfe  things  are  but  as  the 
dufl  of  the  balance,  to  the  happy  foul 
that  knows  what  the  light  of  thy  coun 
tenance  imports.  After  that,  there  can 
be  no  relifh  left  for  the  low  delights  of 
mortality. 

Loft  in  the  high  enjoyments  of  thy  love, 
What  glorious  mortal  could  my  envy  move  ? 

You  ineffable  delegations  of  divine 
love  !  let  me  havenofentiment  of  plea- 
fure  left  but  for  you.  My  God  reveal 
ing  his  glories  and  his  graces  in  Jefus 
Chrift  his  fon,  is  fufficient  for  my  e- 
ternal  entertainment. 

What  if  all  former  ideas  of  vifible 
things  were  wiped  from  my  foul?  What 
if  I  had  no  imagination,  no  memory, 
no  traces  left  of  any  thing,  but  the  joys 
I  have  found  in  thy  prefence,  and  the 
affurance  of  thy  everlafting  favour? 
Thofe  are  the  only  paft  moments  I  re- 
cal  with  pleafure  ?  and  Oh  !  let  all  the 
vaft  eternity  before  me  be  fpent  in  thefe 
fatisfa&ions. 

Vanifh,  ye  terreftrial  fcenes  !  fly 
away,  ye  vain  objects  ot  fenfe !  I  re- 

%n 


XXVII.          of  the  Heart.  151 

fign  all  thofe  poor  and  limited  faculties 
by  which  you  are  enjoyed.  Let  me 
be  infenfible  to  all  your  impreffions,  if 
they  do  not  lead  me  to  my  God.  Let 
chaos  come  again,  and  the  fair  face  of 
nature  become  an  univerfal  blank  :  Let 
her  glowing  beauties  all  fade  away, 
and  thofe  divine  characters  fhe  wears 
be  effaced  ;  I  fhall  yet  be  happy  ;  the 
God  of  nature,  and  the  original  of  all 
beauty,  is  my  God. 

What  if  the  fun  were  extinguifhed 
in  the  ikies,  and  all  the  etherial  lamps 
had  burnt  out  their  golden  flames,  I 
fhall  dwell  in  light  and  immortal  day, 
for  my  God  will  be  ever  with  me. 
When  the  groves  fhall  no  more  renew 
their  verdure,  nor  the  fields  and  vallies 
boaft  any  longer  their  flowery  pride  ; 
when  all  thofe  lower  heavens,  and  this 
earth,  are  mingled  in  univerfal  ruin, 
and  thefe  material  images  of  things  are 
no  more;  I  fhall  fee  new  regions  of 
beauty  and  pleafure,  for  ever  opening 
themfelves  in  the  divine  efTence,  with 
all  their  original  glories. 

But,  Oh!  how  various,  how  bound- 

lefs, 


1 5  2  Devout  Exercifes      XXVII. 

lefs,  howtranfportingwillthe  profped: 
be!  Oh,  when  fhall  1  bid  adieu  to 
phantoms  and  delufions,  and  converfe 
with  eternal  realites?  When  {hall  I 
drink  at  the  fountain-head  of  effential 
life  and  bleffednefs  ? 


-and  then, 


*  O  what ! — But  afk  not  of  the  tongues  of  men, 
€  For  angels  cannot  tell  \  let  it  fuffice, 
«  Thyfelf,  my  foul,  {halt  feel  thy  own  full  joys, 
'  And  hold  them  fall  for  ever.' 

Oh  !  break  my  fetters,  for  I  muft 
be  gone. — Bring  my  foul  out  of  prifon. 
I  am  ftraitened  ;  the  whole  creation  is 
too  narrow7  for  me ;  I  iicken  at  this 
confinement,  and  groan  and  pant  for 
liberty.  How  fweet  are  the  thoughts  of 
enlargement !  My  foul  is  already  on 
the  wing,  and  practifes  imaginary 
flights  :  I  feem  to  reach  the  heaven  of 
heavens,  where  God  himfelf  refides. 
It  is  good  for  me  to  be  here. 

But,  ah  !  how  foon  do  clouds  of  mortal  fenfe 
Arife,  and  veil  the  charming  vifion  ! — 

Alas !  what  do  I  hear  in  this  waftc 

and 


XXVII.          of  the  Heart  153 

and  dreadful  wildernefs:  this  difmal 
region,  where  our  delights  are  vaniih- 
ing,  and  the  very  glirnpfes  of  future  fe 
licity  we  enjoy,  are  fo  foon  overfhadow- 
ed,  and  furrounded  with  real  horrors  ? 
Alas  !  what  do  I  here,  wafting  that 
breath  in  fighs  and  endlefs  complaints, 
that  was  given  me  to  blefs  and  praife 
the  infinite  Creator  ?  Alas !  what  do  I 
here,  among  ftrangers  and  enemies,  in 
this  wild  unhofpitable  place,  far  from 
my  home,  and  all  the  objects  of  my  folid 
delight  ? 

Mywlfties,  hopes,  my  pleafures,  and  my  love, 
My  thoughts,  and  nobleft  pailions,  are  above. 

What  do  I  here,  in  the  dominions 
of  death  and  fin,  in  the  precin&s  and 
range  of  the  powers  of  darknefs  ? 
Here  they  lay  their  tools,  and  fet  their 
fatal  fnares  :  but,  Lord  !  what  part 
haye  they  in  me  ?  1  have  bid  defiance 
to  the  powers  of  darknefs  in  thy 
ftrength,  and  renounced  my  fhare  in 
the  vanities  of  the  world.  I  am  a  fub- 
ject  of  another  kingdom,  and  dare  not 
enter  into  any  terms  of  peace  and  amity 

writh 


154  Devout  Exercifes     XXVII. 

with  the  irreconcileable  adverfaries  of 
God  and  my  foul,  which  inhabit  thefe 
treacherous  and  finful  regions.  The 
friendfhip  of  this  world  is  enmity  with 
God.  Death  and  destruction  are  in  its 
fmiles.  I  ftand  on  my  guard,  and  am 
every  moment  in  danger  of  furprife : 
Oh  1  when  will  my  deliverance  come 
from  on  high  ? 


-When,  my  foul, 


O  when  fhallthy  releafe  from  cumb'rous  flsfh 
Pafs  the  great  leal  of  heaven  ?  What  happy  hour 
Shall  give  thy  thoughts  a  loofe  to  Ibar,  and  trace 
The  intellectual  world  ? 

What  glorious  fcenes  fliall  open, 
when  once  this  mortal  partition  falls, 
when  thefe  walls  of  clay  lhall  totter 
and  fink  down  into  duft  ! 

Ye  waters  of  life  !  ye  torrents  of 
immortal  pleafure  !  how  impetuoufly 
will  you  then  roll  in  upon  me,  and 
fwell  and  fill  up  all  the  capacities  of 
joy  in  my  nature  !  Every  faculty  fliall 
then  be  filled,  and  every  wifh  (hall  end 
in  unutterable  fruition.  When  I  awake 
into  immortal  light,  I  lhall  be  fatisfied 

with 


XXVIL          of  the  Heart.  155 

with  thy  likenefs.  Thefe  exprefslefs 
defires  will  die  into  everlafting  raptures. 
Hope  and  languishing  expectation  will 
be  no  more  ;  but  prefent,  complete, 
and  unbounded  fatisfa6lion,  will  fur- 
round  me.  My  God,  my  God  him- 
felf,  fhall  be  my  infinite,  my  unutter 
able  joy.  All  the  avenues  of  pleafure 
fhall  be  open  before  me,  the  fcenes  of 
beauty,  and  profpedts  of  delight.  E- 
verlafting  joy  lhall  be  upon  my  head, 
and  forrow  and  fighing  fhall  fly  away 
for  ever 

There  will  be  no  more  intervals  of 
grief  and  fin;  fin,  that  unfupportable 
evil,  that  worft,  that  heavieft  burden. 
Here  the  painful  deadly  preffure  lies. 
'Tis  this  that  hangs  as  a  weight  on  all 
rny  joys.  But,  thanks  be  to  God,  I 
can  fay,  I  fincerely  deteftand  hate  this 
vileft  of  flaveries,  this  curfed  bondage 
of  corruption  :  1  long  for  the  glorious 
liberty  of  the  fons  of  God;  I  groan 
under  this  load  of  flefh,  this  burden 
of  mortality,  this  body  of  death. 

But  grant,  O  Lord  !  I  may  with  pa 
tience  continue  in  well-doing,    and  at 
i  laft 


156         Devout  Exercifes      XX VIII. 

laft  obtain  glory  and  immortality 
through  my  Redeemer's  righteoufnefs. 
Sanctify  me  thro'  thy  word  of  truth*; 
remember  this  requefl  of  my  glorious 
Advocate. 

XXVIII. 

A  Prayer  for fpeedy  SanElif cation. 

O  Lord  God!  great  and  holy,  all- 
fufficient,  and  full  of  grace  !  If 
thou  iKouldft  bid  me  form  a  wifh,  and 
take  whatfoever  in  heaven  or  earth  I  had 
to  aik,  it  fhould  not  be  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world,  nor  the  crowns  of  prin 
ces;  no,  nor  fliould  it  be  the  wreaths 
of  martyrs,  nor  the  thrones  of  archan 
gels  :  My  requeft  is  to  be  made  holy; 
this  is  my  higheft  concern.  Re6tify 
the  diforders  fin  has  made  in  my  foul ; 
and  renew  thy  image  there;  let  me  be 
fatisfied  with  thy  likenefs.  Thou  haft 
compaffed  my  paths  with  mercy  in  all 
other  refpedts ;  and  I  am  difcontented 
with  nothing  but  my  own  heart,  be- 
caufe  it  is  fo  unlike  the  image  of  thy 

holincfs 
*  >to  17. 


XXVIII.       of  the  Heart.  157 

holinefs,  and  fo  unfit  for  thy  immediate 
p  re  fence. 

Permit  me  to  be  importunate  here, 
O  bleffed  God  !  and  grant  the  impor 
tunity  of  my  wifhes  :  Let  me  be  fa 
voured  with  a  gracious  and  fpeedy  an- 
fwer,  for  I  am  dying  while  I  am  fpeak- 
ing :  The  very  breath  with  which  I 
am  calling  upon  thee,  is  carrying  away 
a  part  of  my  life:  This  tongue  that  is 
now  invoking  thee,  muft  fhortly  be 
filent  in  the  grave  :  Thefe  knees  that 
are  bent  to  pay  thee  homage,  and  thefe 
hands  that  are  now  lifted  to  the  Moft 
High  God  for  mercy,  muft  ihortly  be 
mouldering  to  their  original  duft: 
Thefe  eyes  will  foon  be  clofed  in  death, 
which  are  now  looking  up  to  thy  throne 
for  a  blefling.  Oh  !  prevent  the  flying 
hours  with  thy  mercy,  and  let  thy  fa 
vour  outftrip  the  hafty  moments. 

Thou  art  unchanged,  while  rolling 
ages  pafs  along;  but  I  am  decaying 
with  every  breath  I  draw  :  My  whole 
allotted  time  to  prepare  for  heaven  is 
but  a  point,  compared  with  thy  in 
finite  duration.  The  ftiortnefs  and 
O  vanity 


1 5  8         Devout  Exercifes      X  X  VI I  f . 

vanity  of  my  prefent  being,  and  the 
importance  of  my  eternal  concerns; 
join  together  to  demand  my  utmoft  fo- 
licitude,  and  give  wings  to  my  warm- 
eft  wifhes.  Before  I  can  utter  all 
my  prefent  defires,  the  hafty  oppor 
tunity  perhaps  is  gone,  the  golden 
minute  vaniihed,  and  the  feafon  of 
mercy  has  taken  its  everlafting  flight. 

Oh  God  of  ages!  hear  me  ipeedily, 
and  grant  my  requeft  while  I  am  yet 
fpeaking:  my  frail  exiftence  will  admit 
of  no  delay.  Anfwer  me  according 
to  the  iliortnefs  of  my  duration,  and 
the  exigence  of  my  circumfhmces.  My 
bufinels,  of  high  importance  as  it  is, 
yet  is  limited  to  the  prefent  now,  the 
pafling  moment ;  for  all  the  powers  on 
earth  cannot  promife  me  the  next. 

Let  not  my  preffing  importunity 
therefore  offend  thee  j  my  happinefs, 
my  everlafting  happinefs,  my  whole 
being,  is  concerned  in  my  fuccefs ;  as 
much  as  the  enjoyment  of  God  himfelf 
is  worth,  is  at  ftake. 

Thou  knoweft,  O  Lord  !  what 
qualification  will  fit  me  tobehold  thee: 

Thou 


XXVIIL       oftheHeart.  159 

Thou  knoweft  in  what  I  am  defective; 
thou  canft  prepare  my  foul  in  an  in- 
ftant,  to  enter  into  thy  holy  habitation : 
I  breathe  now,  but  the  next  moment 
may  be  death  ;  let  not  that  fatal  mo 
ment  come  before  I  am  prepared.  The 
fame  creating  voice  that  faid,  Let 
there  be  light,  and  there  was  light, 
can  in  the  fame  hour  purify  and  adorn 
my  foul,  and  make  me  fit  for  thy  own 
prefence;  and  my  foul  longs  to  be  thus 
purified  and  adorned.  O  Lord  !  delay 
not,  for  every  moment's  interval  is  a 
lofs  tome,  and  may  bealofs  unfpeak- 
able  and  irreparable.  Thy  delay  can 
not  be  theleaft  advantage  tothee;  thy 
power,  and  thy  clemency,  are  as  full 
this  prefent  inftant,  as  they  will  be  the 
next,  and  my  time  as  fleeting,  and  my 
wants  as  preffing. 

Remember,  O  Eternal  God!  my 
loft  time  is  for  ever  loft,  and  my  waft 
ed  hours  will  never  return :  my  ne- 
gledled  opportunities  can  never  be  re 
called  ;  to  me  they  are  gone  for  ever, 
and  cannot  be  improved :  But  thou 
canft  change  my  finful  foul  into  holi- 

nefs 


1 60  Devout  Exercifes      XXIX. 

iiefs  by  a  word,  and  fet  me  now  in  the 
way  to  everlafting  improvement. 

O  let  not  the  fpirit  of  God  reftrain 
itfelf,  but  blefs  me  according  to  the 
fulnefs  of  thy  own  Being,  according  to 
the  riches  of  thy  grace  in  Chrift  Jefus  \ 
according  to  thy  infinite  inconceivable 
love  manifefted  in  that  glorious  gift 
of  thy  beloved  Son,  wherein  the  ful 
nefs  of  the  Godhead  was  contained  : 
'Tis  through  his  merit  and  mediation, 
1  humbly  wait  for  all  the  unbounded 
bleffings  I  want  or  aik  for. 

XXIX. 

Gratitude  for  early  and  peculiar  favours. 

LET  me  trace  back  thy  mercy,  O 
my  God  !  from  the  firft  early  dawn 
of  life;  and  blefs  thee  for  the  privileges 
of  my  birth,  that  it  was  not  in  the  land 
of  darknefs,  where  no  ray  of  the  gof- 
pel  had  ever  darted  its  light,  where  the 
name  of  a  Saviour  never  had  reached 
my  ears,  nor  the  tranfporting  tidings 

of 


XXIX.  of  the  Heart.  161 

of   redemption    from   eternal   mifery 
had  ever  bleffed  my  foul. 

But  how  fhall  I  exprefs  my  grati 
tude  for  that  grace  which  ordained  my 
lot  in  this  happy  land,  one  of  the  iflands 
of  which  it  was  long  fince  prophefied, 
they  fhotild  fee  thy  glory,  and  truft  in 
thy  name  !  God  has  enlarged  Japhet, 
even  the  iflands  of  the  fea,  and  made 
him  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem,  in  the 
inheritance  of  Abraham.  I  have  my 
defcent  from  the  Gentiles,  who  were 
once  ftrangers  to  the  covenant  of  grace, 
aliens  from  the  commonwealth  of  Ifra- 
el ;  but  are  now  brought  nigh  by  the 
blood  of  fprinkling.  Jefus,  the  great 
peace  maker,  hath  brought  both  near 
to  God,  and  to  each  other. 

I  blefs  thee,  with  all  my  powers, 
for  the  privilege  of  my  defcent  from 
pious  anceftors;  that  thou  haft  been 
their  dwelling  place  from  generation  to 
generation,  and  haft  not  taken  thy  lov 
ing  kindnefs  from  their  feed,  nor  fuffer- 
ed  thy  faithfulnefs  to  fail. 

Thou  haft  extended  thy  mercy  to  me 

the  laft  and  leaft  of  all    my  father's 

O  3  houfe 


1 62  Devout  Exemfes        XXIX. 

houfe,  unworthy  to  wipe  the  feet  of  the 
meaneftof  the  fervantsof  my  Lord  :  and 
yet  by  an  abfolute  act  of  goodnefs,  I  am 
brought  into  thy  family,  and  number 
ed  with  the  children  of  God.  Even  fo 
it  has  feemed  good  in  thy  fight,  who 
art  gracious  to  whom  thou  wilt  be  gra 
cious. 

I  might  have  been  a  veflel  of  wrath, 
a  trophy  to  thy  juftice,  inftead  of  a 
monument  of  thy  mercy :  How  un- 
fearchable  are  thy  ways !  how  uncon- 
trouled  and  free!  Thou  didft  regard 
me  in  my  low  eftate,  in  more  than  my 
original  guilt  and  mifery  ;  for  I  had 
improved  the  wretched  ftock,  and  been 
a  voluntary,  as  well  as  a  natural  Have 
to  fin  and  death. 

From  this  ignominious  flavery, 
thou,  my  great  Redeemer,  haft  ran* 
fomed  me,  and  brought  me  into  the 
glorious  liberty  of  the  ions  of  God.  I 
was  a  ftranger,  and  thou  didft  take 
me  in  ;  naked,  and  thou  haft  clothed 
me  with  the  fpotlefs  robes  of  thy  own 
righteoufnefs.  I  was  hungry,  and 
thou  didft  feed  me;  thirfty,  and  thou 

didft 


XXIX.          of  the  Heart.  1 63 

didft  give  me  to  drink  of  the  fountain 
of  life. 

What  am  I,  O  Lord  !  and  what  is 
my  father's  houfe,  that  thouhaft  dealt 
thus  gracioufly  with  me,  in  entering 
into  an  everlafting  covenant,  figned  and 
fealed,  even  fenfibly  fealed  to  my  foul, 
by  the  witnefs  of  the  fpirit  ?  Lord  ! 
why  me,  rather  than  many  that  were 
companions  of  my  early  vanities  and 
folly?  whence  were  the  motives 
drawn,  but  from  thy  fovereign  plea- 
fure?  How  many  are  paffed  by  that 
could  have  donethee  more  fervice,  and 
returned  a  warmer  acknowledgement 
to  thy  diftinguifhing  bounty  ? 

Yefpirits  ofjuft  mcnmade  perfed: ! 
ye  ranfomed  nations,  triumphant  a- 
bove !  inftruti  me  in  the  art  of  celeftial 
eloquence  ;  tell  in  what  ftrains  of  fac- 
red  harmony  you  exprefs  your  grati 
tude  for  this  glorious  redemption, 
while  in  exalted  raptures  you  fing  to 
him  that  loved  and  wafhed  you  in  his 
own  blood,  and  made  you  kings  and 
priefts  to  God. 

XXX. 


164  Devout  Exercifes         XXX. 

XXX. 

Affiring  after  the  Vifion  of  GOD  in 

Heaven. 

Befeech  thee,  fhew  me  thy  glory. 
-*-  It  was  a  mortal  in  a  ftate  of  frailty 
and  imperfection,  that  made  this  bold, 
but  pious  requeft ;  which  I  repeat  on 
different  terms :  Since  none  can  fee  thy 
face  and  live,  let  me  die  to  behold  it. 
This  is  the  only  requeft  I  have  to 
make  ;  and  this  will  I  feek  after,  that 
I  may  behold  the  beauty  of  the  Lord, 
not  as  I  have  feen  it  in  thy  fandhiary 
below,  but  in  full  perfection  and  fplen- 
dour,  as  thou  art  feen  by  feraphs  and 
cherubs,  by  angels  and  archangels,  and 
the  fpirits  of juft  men  made  prefed:. 

O  my  God  !  forgive  my  importuni 
ty  :  Thou  haft  commanded  me  to  love 
thee  with  all  my  heart,  my  foul,  my 
ftrength ;  and  haft,  by  thy  Spirit, 
kindled  the  facred  flame  in  my  breaft  : 
From  this  rifes  my  prefent  impatience ; 
from  hence  the  ardour  of  my  defires 
fpring.  Can  I  love  thee,  and  be  fa- 

tisfied 


XXX.  of  the  Heart.  165 

tisfied  at  this  diftance  from  thee  ?  Can 
I  love  thee,  and  not  long  to  behold 
thee  in  perfed:  excellence  and  beauty  ? 
Is  it  a  crime  to  prefs  forward  to  the 
end  for  which  I  was  created  ?  All  my 
wifhes,  and  my  hopes  of  happinefs, 
terminate  in  thee. 

Does  not  the  thirfty  traveller  pine 
for  fome  refrefhing  ftream?  Would 
not  the  weary  be  at  reft,  or  the  wretch 
ed  captive  be  free  ?  And  fhall  not  my 
thirfty,  weary,  captive  foul,  long  for 
refrefhment,  liberty,  and  reft?  lam 
but  a  ftranger,  a  pilgrim  here,  and 
have  no  abiding  place.  This  is  not 
my  reft,  my  home  :  and  yet  if  thou 
haft  any  employment  for  me,  though 
the  meaneft  office  in  thy  family,  I  will 
not  repine  at  my  ftay. 

But,  O  Lord  !  thou  haft  no  need  of 
fuch  worthlefs  fervice  as  I  can  pay 
thee;  thy  angels  are  fpirits,  thy  mi- 
nifters  flames  of  fire;  thoufands  of 
thoufands  ftand  before  thee,  and  ten 
thoufand  times  ten  thoufand  minifter 
unto  thee ;  they  attend  thy  orders,  and 
fly  at  thy  command.  O  deliver  me 

from 


1 66          Devout  Exercifes         XXX. 

from  this  burden  of  mortality;  and 
1  will  ferve  thee  with  a  zeal  as  pure 
and  a<5tive  as  theirs. 

I  can  fpeak  of  thy  loving-kindnefs 
to  the  children  of  men,  in  a  very  im- 
perfed;  manner  ;  but  then  I  will  join 
with  the  celeftial  choir,  in  praifing  thee, 
and  rehearfe  to  liftening  angels  what 
thou  haft  done  for  my  foul.  Here  I 
have  a  thoufand  interruptions  from  the 
delightful  work ;  a  thoufand  cold  and 
darkfome  intervals,  when  my  heart 
and  tongue  are  both  untuned;  a  thou 
fand  neceflary  diftradtions  that  rife 
from  the  miferies  of  mortality :  but 
when  thefe  intervals  of  grief  and  fin 
fhall  ceafe,  my  foul  lhall  dwell  at  cafe, 
and  be  for  ever  glad,  and  rejoice  in 
thy  falvation. 

XXXI. 

A  Surrender  of  the  Soul  to  GOD. 

/COMMAND  me  what  thou  wilt, 
V><  O  Lord  !  give  me  but  ftrength  to 
obey  thee,  be  thy  terms  ever  fo  ievere. 

O 


XXXI.  of  the  Heart.  167 

O  let  us  never  part.  I  reilgn  my  will, 
my  liberty,  my  choice,  to  thee;  I 
ftand  diverted  of  the  world,  and  afk 
only  thy  love  as  my  inheritance.  Give 
or  deny  me  what  thou  wilt.  I  leave 
all  the  circumftances  of  my  future  time 
in  thy  hands  ;  let  the  Lord  guide  me 
continually  :  Here  I  am,  do  with  me 
what  feemeth  good  in  thy  light ;  only 
do  not  fay,  Thou  haft  no  pleafure  in 
me. 

Let  me  not  live  to  dishonour  thee, 
to  bring  a  reproach  on  thy  name,  to 
profane  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God, 
and  grieve  the  Spirit  of  grace.  O  take 
not  thy  loving  kindnefs  from  me,  nor 
fuffer  thy  faithfulnefs  to  fail.  Thou 
haft  fworn  by  thy  holinefs,  and  thou 
wilt  not  lie  to  the  feed  of  thy  fervants  : 
Thou  haft  fx^orn,  that  the  generation 
of  the  righteous  fhall  be  bleffed  :  Veft 
me  with  this  chara<5ter,  O  my  God! 
and  fulfill  this  promife  to  a  worthlefs 
creature, 


XXXII. 


1 68  Devout  Exercifes     XXXII. 

XXXII. 

*£ruft  and  Reliance  on  the  Divine  Pro- 
wife*. 

OLet  not  my  importunity  offend 
thee,  for  'tis  the  importunity  of 
faith;  'tis  my  ftedfaft  belief  in  thy 
word  that  makes  me  periift :  Thy 
word,  and  thy  oath,  the  two  immuta 
ble  things  in  which  it  is  impoffible  for 
God  to  lie,  give  me  ftrong  confolation. 
*Tis  this  that  makes  me  prefs  for 
ward  to  thy  throne,  and  with  confi 
dence  lay  hold  on  thy  ftrength,  thy 
wifdom  and  thy  faithfulnefs,  on  thy 
goodnefs  and  tender  companion ;  thofe 
glorious  attributes  for  which  the  chil 
dren  of  men  put  their  truft  under  the 
lhadow  of  thy  wings.  'Tis  thy  glory 
to  be  the  confidence  of  the  ends  of  the 
earth;  and  it  was  long  fince  predicted , 
That  in  thy  name  the  Gentiles  Ihould 
truft. 

Kind  guardian  of  the  world,  our  heavenly  aid, 
To  whom  the  vows  of  all  mankind  are  paid. 

We  pay  thee  the  higheft  homage, 

and 


XXXII.          of  the  Heart.  169 

and  exalt  thy  infinite  attributes  by  faith 
and  confidence  in  thee. 

I  know  that  thou  art,  and  believe 
thee  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently 
feek  thee.  I  will  never  quit  my  hold 
of  thy  promifes:  There  I  fix  my 
hopes;  I  \vill  not  let  a  tittle  go,  nor  part 
with  a  mite  of  the  glorious  treafure. 
I  humble  hope  I  have  a  rightful  claim  ; 
thou  art  my  God,  and  the  God  of  my 
religious  anceftors,  the  God  of  my  mo 
ther,  the  God  of  my  pious  father: 
Dying,  and  breathing  out  his  foul,  he 
gave  me  to  thy  care,  he  put  me  into  thy 
gracious  arms,  and  delivered  rne  up  to 
fhy  protection.  He  told  me  thou 
wouldft  never  leave  nor  forfake  me ; 
he  triumphed  in  thy  long-experienced 
faithfulnefs  and  truth,  and  gave  his 
teftimpny  with  his  laft  breath. 

And  now,  O  Lord  God  of  my  fa 
thers  !  whofe  mercy  has  defcended  from 
age  to  age,  whofe  truth  has  remained 
unblemiihedand  inviolable,  and  whofe 
love  remains  without  decay  ;  O  Lord, 
the  faithful  God  and  the  true,  keep 
ing  covenant  and  mercy  to  a  thou- 
P  .  fand 


170  Devout  Exercifes     XXXIf. 

fand  generations  !  let  me  find  that  pro 
tection  and  bleffing,  that  the  prayers  of 
my  dying  father  engaged  for  me  : 
Now,  in  the  time  of  my  diftrefs,  be  a 
prefent  help  ;  and  if  thou  wilt  this  once 
deliver  me,  thou  alone  (halt  be  my  fu 
ture  truft,  my  counfellor  and  hope.  To 
thee  I  will  immediately  apply  myfelf, 
and  look  on  the  whole  force  of  created 
nature  as  infignificant.  To  thee  1  wrill 
devote  all  the  bleffings  thou  fhalt  give 
me  ;  my  time,  my  life,  my  whole  of 
this  world's  good;  whatever  fhare  thou 
fhalt  gracioufly  allot  me,  fliall  furely 
be  the  Lord's. 

Oh  hearken  to  the  vows  of  my  dif 
trefs !  and  for  thy  own  honour  deliver 
me  from  this  perplexity  which  thou 
knoweft,  and  reveal  to  me  the  abun 
dance  of  thy  mercy  and  truth. 

'Twas  my  dependence  on  thy  pro- 
mife  and  fidelity,  that  brought  me  in 
to  this  exigence.  1  ftaggered  not  at 
thy  promife  through  unbelief,  but  bold 
ly  ventured  on  the  credit  of  thy  word  : 
I  took  it  for  my  fecurity  ;  and  can  the 
Strength  of  Ifrael  repent  ?  Can  ft  thou 

break 


XX  XII .         of  the  Heart.  171 

break  thy  covenant,  and  alter  the  thing 
that  is  gone  out  of  thy  mouth  ? 

O  God  of  Abraham,  God  of  Ifaac, 
and  the  God  of  Jacob  !  this  is  thy 
name  for  ever,  and  this  thy  memorial 
to  all  generations  ;  the  God  before 
whom  my  fathers  walked,  the  God 
that  fed  me  all  my  life  long  till  now, 
and  the  Angel  that  redeemed  me  from 
evil,  blefs  me.  Let  the  God  of  Jacob 
be  my  help,  let  the  Almighty  blefs 
me  ;  let  the  bleffing  of  my  father  pre 
vail  above  the  bleffing  of  my  progeni 
tors,  to  the  utmoft  bounds  of  the  ever- 
lafting  hills. 

Blefs  me  according  to  thy  own 
greatnefs,  according  to  the  unfearcha- 
ble  riches  of  thy  grace  in  Chrift  Jefus: 
he  is  the  fpring  oi  all  my  hope,  in 
whom  all  the  promifes  of  God  are  yea 
and  amen  ;  he  is  the  true  and  faithful 
witnefs,  and  has,  by  his  death,  fealed 
the  divine  veracity,  and  is  become  fure- 
ty  for  the  honour  and  faithfulnefs  of 
the  Moft  High  God.  To  this  alfo  the 
Holy  Gholl,  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  bears 


witnefs. 


Oh 


172          Devout  Exercifes       X  X  X I L 

Oh  Great  Jehovah,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghoft,  the  Lord  God  Omnipo 
tent  !  hear  and  grant  my  requeft,  for 
the  glory  of  thy  mighty  name,  that 
name  which  faints  and  angels  blefs 
and  love :  Let  thy  perfections  be 
rnanifeft  to  the  children  of  men  j  let 
them  fay,  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth 
in  the  earth  ;  let  them  confefs  thou 
doft  keep  thy  covenant  with  the  feed 
of  thy  fervants,  that  thy  righteoufnefs 
is  from  age  to  age,  and  thy  falvation 
jfhall  never  be  abolifhedj  let  them  fee  and 
acknowledge,  that  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  is  ftrong  confidence,  and  his 
children  have  a  place  of  refuge. 

Unfliaken  as  the  facred  hill, 

And  firm  as  mountains  be; 
Firm  as  a  rock  the  foul  fhall  reft, 

That  leans,   O  Lord,  on  thee. 

Memorandum. 

This  a6t  of  faith  in  God  was  fully 
anfwered ;  and  I  leave  my  teflimony, 
that  the  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  ftrong 
tower,  and  he  knoweth  them  that  put 
their  trull  in  him. 

XXXIIL 


XXXIII.       of  the.  Heart.  173 

XXXIII. 

Application  to  the  Divine   Truth. 

HOWEVER  intricate  and  hopelefs 
my  prefent  diftrefs  may  be  to  hu 
man  views,  why  fhould  I  limit  the 
Almighty?  or  why  fhould  the  holy 
One  of  Ifrael  limit  himfelf  ?  Nature 
and  neceflity  are  thine  :  thou  fpeakeft 
the  wrord,  and  it  comes  to  pafb;  no 
obftacle  can  oppofe  the  omnipotence  of 
thy  will,  nor  make  thy  deiigns  ineffec 
tual . 

Is  thy  hand  at  all  fhortened,  fince 
the  glorious  period  w7hen  thy  mighty 
powrer  and  thy  ftretched  arm  formed  the- 
heavens  and  earth,  when  thefe  fpaci- 
ous  fkies  were  fpread  at  thy  command, 
and  this  heavy  globe  fixed  on  its  airy 
pillars  ! 

The  ftrong  foundations  of  the  earth 

Of  old  by  thee  were  laid  ; 
Thy  hands  the  beauteous  arch  of  heaven 

With  wond'rous  fldll  have  made. 

And  thefe  fhall  wax  old   as   a  gar 
ment  ;   as  a  vefture  {halt  thou  change 
P  3  them, 


1 74         Devout  Exercifes      XXXIII. 

them,  and  they  fhall  be  changed  :  but 
fliouldeft  thou,  like  thefe,  decay,  where 
were  the  hopes  of  them  that  confide  in 
thee?  If  in  all  generations  thy  per 
fections  were  not  the  fame,  what  con- 
folation  could  the  race  of  men  draw 
from  the  ancient  records  of  thy  wonder 
ful  works?  Why  are  we  told,  thou  did  ft 
divide  the  fea,  to  make  a  path  for  thy 
people  through  the  mighty  waters  ?  that 
thou  didft  rain  bread  from  heaven, 
and  diffolve  the  flinty  rock  in  chryftal 
rills,  to  give  thy  choien  nation  drink? 

Thou  art  he  that  diftingufhed  Noah 
in  the  univerfal  deluge,  and  preferved 
the  floating  ark  amidft  winds , and  rains , 
and  tumultuous  billows. 

'Twas  thy  prote<fting  care  that  led 
Abraham  from  his  kindred  and  his  na 
tive  country,  and  brought  him  fafely  to 
thepromifed  land. 

Thou  didft  accompany  Jacob  in  his 
journey  to  Padanaram,  and  give  him 
bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on  ; 
till,  greatly  increafed  in  fubftance,  he 
returned  to  his  father's  houfe ;  he 

wreflled 


XXXIII.      of  the  Heart.  175 

wreftled  for  a  blefTing,  he  wreftled 
with  the  Almighty,  and  prevailed. 

With  Jofeph  thou  wenteft  down  in 
to  Egypt,  and  didfl  deliver  him  out  of 
all  his  adverfities,  till  he  forgot  his  for- 
rows,  and  all  the  toil  of  his  father's 
houfe, 

Thou  didfl  remember  thy  people  in 
the  Egyptian  bondage,  and  look  with 
pitying  eyes  on  their  affliction ;  and 
after  four  hundred  and  thirty  years, 
on  the  very  day  thou  hadft  promifed, 
didft  releafe  and  bring  them  out  with 
triumph  and  miracles.  Thy  prefence 
went  with  them  in  a  pillar  of  cloud  by 
day,  and  a  protecting  fire  by  night  : 
Thy  conquering  hand  drove  out  great 
and  potent  nations,  and  gave  them  en 
tire  poffeffion  of  the  land  promifed  to 
their  fathers:  Nor  didft  thou  fail  in 
the  leaft  circumftance,  of  all  the  good 
things  thou  hadft  promifed. 

What  a  cloud  of  witnefles  ftand  on 
record  1  Jolhua  and  Gideon,  Jephtha 
and  Sampfon,  who  through  faith  ob 
tained  promifes. 

Thou  didft  command  the  ravens  to 

feed 


1 7  6  Dwout  Exercifes     XXXIII. 

feed  the  holy  prophet ;  and  at  the 
word  of  a  prophet,  didft  fuftain  the 
widow's  family  with  a  handful  of  meal. 

Thou  didft  walk  with  the  three  He 
brews  in  the  fiery  furnace  :  Thou  waft 
prefent  with  Daniel  in  the  lions  den, 
todeliverhim,  becaufehetruftedin  thee. 

In  what  inftance  has  the  prayer  of 
faith  been  rejected  ?  Where  were  the 
righteous  forfaken  ?  Who  can  charge 
God,  without  charging  him  foolifh- 
ly  ?  What  injuftice  has  been  found  in 
the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  ?  His  glori 
ous  titles  have  flood  unblemifhed  from 
generation  to  generation  :  Nor  can  a- 
ny  of  his  perfections  decay,  or  rolling 
years  make  a  change  on  the  Ancient 
of  Days. 

Are  not  his  words  clear  and  dif- 
tindt,  without  a  double  meaning,  or 
the  leaft  deceit  ?  Are  they  not  fuch  as 
may  juftly  fecure  my  confidence  ?  fuch 
as  would  fatisfy  me  from  the  mouth 
of  man,  unconftant  man,  whofe  breath 
is  in  his  noftrils,  and  his  foundation  in 
the  duft,  unftable  as  water,  and  fleet- 


XXXIII.  of  the  Heart.  177 

ing  as  a  fliadow  ?  And  can  I  fo  flowly 
affent  to  the  words  of  the  Moft  High? 
Shall  I  truft  impotent  man,  that  has 
neither  wifdom  nor  might  to  accom- 
plifh  his  deligns  ;  that  cannot  call  the 
next  breath  or  motion  his  own,  nor 
promife  himfelf  a  moment  in  all  futu 
rity  ?  Can  I  reft  on  thefe  feeble  props, 
and  yet  tremble  and  defpond,  when  I 
have  the  veracity  of  the  eternal  God, 
to  fecure  and  fupport  me  ? 

I  know  he  will  not  break  his  cove-* 
nant,  nor  fufferhis  faithfulnefs  to  fail: 
I  dare  atteft  it  in  the  face  of  earth  and 
hell ;  I  dare  ftake  my  all  for  time  and 
eternity  on  this  glorious  truth,  a  truth 
which  hell  cannot  blemilh,  nor  all  its 
malice  contradict. 

Exert  yourfelves,  ye  powersof  dark- 
nefs  !  bring  in  your  evidence,  colledt 
your  inftances ;  begin  from  the  firft  ge 
nerations,  fince  the  world  was  peopled, 
and  men  began  to  call  on  the  name  of 
the  Lord  ;  When  did  they  call  in  vain  ? 
when  did  the  Holy  One  of  Ifrael  fail 
the  expectation  of  the  humble  and 
contrite  f  pint  ?  Point  out,  in  your  black- 
eft 


178          Devout  Exercifes      XXXIII. 

eftchara&ers,  the  difmal  period,  when 
the  name  of  the  Lord  was  no  more  a  re 
fuge  to  them  that  trufted  in  him  :  Let 
the  annals  of  hell  be  produced,  let 
them  mark  the  dreadful  day,  and  dif- 
tinguifh  it  with  eternal  triumphs. 

In  vain  youfearch;  for  neither  hea 
ven,  nor  earth,  nor  hell,  have  ever 
been  witnefs  to  the  leaft  deviation  from 
truth  orjufHce  :  The  Almighty  fhines 
with  unblemiilied  glory,  to  the  confu- 
fion  of  hell,  and  the  confolation  of 
thofe  that  put  their  truft  in  him. 

On  thy  eternal  truth  and  honour  I 
entirely  caft  myfelf:  If  lam  deceived, 
I  am  deceived  ;  angels  and  archangels 
are  deluded  too:  they,  like  me,  have 
no  dependence,  beyond  the  divine 
veracity,  for  their  bleffednefs  and  im 
mortality  ;  they  hang  all  their  hopes 
on  his  goodnefs  and  immutability  ; 
If  that  fails,  the  celeftial  paradife  va- 
nifhes,  and  all  its  glories  are  extinct ; 
the  golden  palaces  fink,  and  the  fe- 
raphic  thrones,  muft  totter  and  fall. 
Where  are  your  crowns,  ye  fpirits 
elect?  where  are  your  fongs,  and  your 

triumphs, 


XXXIII.      of  tie  Heart.  179 

triumphs,  if  the  truth  of  God  can  fail  ? 
A  mere  poffibility  of  that  would  dark 
en  the  fields  of  light,  and  turn  the 
voice  of  melody  into  grief  and  lamen 
tation. 

What  pangs  would  rife,  even 
through  all  the  regions  of  bleffednefs  ; 
what  diffidence  and  fear  would  lhake 
the  heart  of  every  inhabitant ;  what 
agonies  furprize  them  all,  could  the 
\vord  of  the  Moft  High  God  be  can 
celled  ?  The  pillars  of  heaven  might 
then  tremble,  and  the  everlafting 
mountains  bow;  the  celeftial  founda 
tions  might  be  moved  from  their  place, 
and  that  nobleft  ftrucSure  of  the  hands 
of  God  be  chaos,  and  eternal  ernpti- 
nefs. 

But,  for  ever  juft  and  true  are  thy 
ways,  thou  King  of  faints  !  Blefled 
are  all  they  that  put  their  truil  in  thee ; 
for  thou  art  a  certain  refuge  in  the  day 
of  diftrefs,  and  under  the  ihadow  of 
thy  wings  I  will  rejoice.  My  foul  (hall 
make  her  boaft  in  the  Lord,  and  tri 
umph  in  his  falvation :  I  called  on 

him 


I  So  Devout  Exercifes     XXXIV. 

him  in  diftrefs,  and  he  has  delivered 
me  from  all  my  fears, -Hallelujah  ! 

Here  I  difmifs  my  carnal  hope, 

My  fond  defires  recall ; 
I  give  my  mortal  intereft  up, 

And  make  my  God  my  ail 

XXXIV. 

Glory  to  GOD,  for  Salvation  by  JESUS 
and  bis  Blood. 

LET  me  give  glory  to  God  before  I 
die,  and  take  fhame  and  confufi- 
on  to  myfelf.  I  afcribe  my  falvation 
to  the  free  and  abfolute  goodnefs  of 
God.  Not  by  the  ftrength  ofreafon, 
or  any  natural  inclination  to  virtue, 
but  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  am  what  I 
am.  O  my  Redeemer  !  be  the  victo 
ry,  be  the  glory  thine.  I  expedt  eter 
nal  life  and  happinefs  from  thee,  not 
as  a  debt,  but  a  free  gift,  a  prormfed 
adl  of  bounty.  How  poor  would  my 
expectations  be,  if  I  only  looked  to  be 
rewarded  according  to  thofe  works, 
which  my  own  vanity,  or  the  partality 

of 


XXXIV.       of  the  Heart.  181 

of  others,  have  called  good,  and  which, 
if  examined  by  the  divine  purity, 
would  prove  but  fpecious  fins  ?  As 
fuch,  I  renounce  them:  pardon  them, 
gracious  Lord !  and  I  afk  no  more ; 
nor  can  hope  for  that,  but  through  the 
fatis faction  which  hath  been  made  to 
divine  juftice,  for  the  fins  of  the  world. 
OJefus,  my  Saviour,  what  harmo 
ny  dwells  in  thy  name  !  Celeftial  joy, 
immortal  life  is  in  the  found. 

Sweet  name  !   in  thy  each  fyllable 
A  thoufand  blefs'd  Arabia's  dwell ; 
Mountains  of  myrrh,  and  beds  of  ipices, 
And  ten  thoufand  paradifes* 

Let  angels  fet  this  name  to  their 
golden  harps  j  let  the  redeemed  of  the 
Lord  for  ever  magnify  it. 

O  my  propitious  Saviour  !  where 
were  my  hopes,  but  for  thee  ?  How 
defperate,  how  undone,  were  my  cir- 
cumftances  ?  I  look  on  myfelf,  in  ev 
ery  view  I  can  take,  with  horror  and 
contempt.  I  was  torn  in  a  ftate  of 
miferyand  fin,  and,  in  my  beft  eftate, 
am  altogether  vanity.  With  the  ut- 

moft 


i8a          Devout  Exercifes     XXXIV. 

moil  advantages  I  can  boaft,  I  flirink 
back,  1  tremble  to  appear  before  un- 
blemifhed  Majefty.  O  thou,  in  whofe 
name  the  Gentiles  truft !  be  my  refuge 
in  that  a\\ful  hour.  To  thee  1  come, 
my  only  confidence  and  hope.  Let  the 
blood  of  fprinkling,  let  the  feal  of 
God's  covenant,  be  on  me.  Cleanfe 
me  from  my  original  ftain,  and  my 
contracted  impurity;  and  adorn  me 
with  the  robes  of  thy  righteoufnefs,  by 
which  alone  I  expect  to  ftand  juftified 
before  infinite  juftice  and  purity. 

O  enter  not  into  judgment  with  me, 
for  the  beft  acftions  of  my  life  cannot 
bear  thy  fcrutiny,  fome  fecret  blemifh 
has  ftained  all  my  glory.  My  devotion 
to  God  has  been  mingled  with  levi 
ty  and  irreverence;  my  charity  to  man, 
with  pride  and  oftentation.  Some  la 
tent  defed  has  attended  my  beft  acfti- 
ons;  and  thofe  very  things  which  per 
haps  have  been  highly  efteemed  by 
men,  have  deferved  contempt  in  the 
fight  of  God. 

f  When  I  furvey  the  wond'rous  crofs, 
«  On  which  the  Prince  o£  glory  died  5 

'  My 


XXXV.        of  the  Heart.  1-8-3- 

*  My  richeft  gain  I  count  my  lofs, 

*  And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride. 

(  Forbid  it,  Lord  !  that  I  fhould  boaft, 

*  Save  in  the  crofs  of  Chnft,  my  God  : 

(  All  the  vain  things  that  charm  me  mofi, 
€  Ifacrifice  them  to  thy  blood.' 

APRIL  30,    1735. 

XXXV. 

A  Review  ofWrvine  Mercy  and  Faith- 
Julnefs. 

AM.  now  fetting  to  my  feal,  that 
God  is  true  ;  and  leaving  this  as 
my  lalt  tefHmony  to  the  divine  veraci 
ty.  I  can  from  numerous  experiences 
aflert  his  faithfulnefs,  and  witnefs  to 
the  certainty  ot  his  promifes.  The 
word  of  the  Lord  is  tried,  and  he  is  a 
buckler  to  all  thofe  that  put  their  truil 
in  him. 

O  come,  all  you  that  fear  the  Lord ! 
and  I  will  tell  you  what  he  has  done 
for  my  foul;  I  will  afcribe  righteouf- 
nefs  to  my  Maker,  and  leave  my  re- 
card  for  a  people  yet  unborn,  that  the 

generation 


184  Devout  Exerc/fes      XXXV, 

generation  to  come   may  rife  up  and 
praife  him. 

Into  whatever  diftrefs  his  wife  provi 
dence  has  brought  me,  I  have  called 
on  the  Lord,  and  he  heard  me,  and 
delivered  me  from  all  my  fears;  I  truft- 
ed  in  God,  and  he  faved  me.  Oh  ! 
let  my  experience  ftand  a  witnefs  to 
them  that  hope  in  his  mercy ;  let  it  be  to 
the  Lord  for  a  praife  and  a  glory. 

I  know  not  where  to  begin  the  re 
cital  of  thy  numerous  favours.  Thou 
haft  hid  me  in  the  fecret  of  thy  pavi 
lion,  from  the  pride  of  man,  and 
from  the  ftrife  of  tongues,  when  by 
a  thoufand  follies  I  have  merited  re 
proach  :  Thou  haft  gracioufly  protect 
ed  me,  w7hen  the  vanity  of  my  friends, 
or  the  malice  of  my  enemies,  might 
have  ftained  my  reputation:  Thou 
haft  covered  me  with  thy  feathers,  and 
under  thy  wings  have  I  trufted :  Thy 
truth  has  been  my  fhield  and  my  buck 
ler  ;  to  thee  I  owe  the  blefling  of  a  clear 
and  unblemillied  name,  and  not  to  my 
own  conduct,  nor  the  partiality  of  my 

friends. Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord  1 

Thou 


XXXV.        of  the  Heart.  185 

Thou  haft  led  me  through  a  thou- 
fand  labyrinths,  and  enlightened  my 
darknefs.  When  (hades  and  perplexi 
ty  furrounded  me,  my  light  has  broke 
forth  outof  obfcurity ,  and  my  darknefs 
been  turned  into  noon-day.  Thou  hail 
been  a  guide  and  a  father  to  me.  When 
I  knew  not  where  to  aik  advice,  tliou 
haft  given  me  unerring  counfel  :  the 
fecret  of  the  Lord  has  been  with  me, 
and  he  has  {hewn  me  his  covenant. 

In  how  many  feen  and  unfeen  dan 
gers  haft  thou  delivered  -me  !  How  nar 
row  my  gratitude  !  how  wide  thy  mer 
cy  !  h-DW  innumerable  are  the  thoughts 
of  love!  how  infinite  the  inftances  of 
thy  goodnefs !  how  high  above  the  ways 
and  thoughts  of  man  ! 

How  often  haft  thou  fupplied  my 
wants,  and,  by  thy  bounty,  confound 
ed  my  unbelief!  Thy  benefits  have  fur- 
prifed,  and  juftly  reproached  my  dif 
fidence;  my  faith  has  often  failed,  but 
thy  goodnefs  has  never  failed.  The 
world  an  j  all  its  flatteries  have  fa. led, 
my  own  heart  and  hopes  have'  failed  ; 


1 86          Devout  Exe rafts       X  XX  V . 

but   thy  mercy  endures  for  ever,   thy 
faithfulnefs  has  never  failed. 

The  Strength  of  Ifrael  has  never  de 
ceived  me,  nor  made  me  afhamed  of 
my  confidence.  Thou  haft  never  been 
as  a  deceitful  brook,  or  as  waters  that 
fail,  to  my  foul. 

la  loving-kindnefs,  in  truth,  and 
in  very  faithfulnefs,  thou  haft  afflided 
me:  Oh,  how  unwillingly  haft  thou 
feemed  to  grieve  me  !  With  how  much 
indulgence  has  the  punilhment  been 
mixed!  Love  has  appeared  through 
the  difguife  of  every  frown ;  its  beams 
have  glimmered  through  the  darkeft 
night;  by  every  affliction  thou  halt 
been  ftill  drawing  me  nearer  to  thyfelf, 
and  removing  my  carnal  props ,  that  I 
may  lean  with  more  afliirance  on  the 
Eternal  Rock. 

Thy  love  has  been  my  leading  glory 
from  the  firft  intricate  fteps  01  life: 
The  firft  undefigning  paths  I  trode, 
were  marked  and  guarded  by  the  vigil 
ance  of  thy  love;  oh!  whither  elfe  had 
my  fin  and  tolly  led  me  ? 

How  often  have  1  tried  and  experi 
enced 


XXXV.         of  the  EC  art,  1 87 

enced  thy  clemency,  and  found  an  im 
mediate  anfwer  to  my  prayers  !  Thou 
haft  often  Ikerally  fulfilled  thy  word. 
I  have  a  frefti  inftance  of  thy  faithful- 
nefs  again :  thou  haft  made  me  triumph 
in  thy  goodnefs,  and  given  a  new  tef- 
timony  to  the  veracity  of  thy  promifes. 

And,  after  all,  what  ingratitude, 
what  infenfibility  reigns  in  my  heart ! 
Oh  cancel  it  by  the  blood  of  the  coven 
ant  !  root  out  this  monftrous  infidelity 
that  ft)  11  returns  after  the  fulleft  evi 
dence  of  thy  truth.  Thou  haftgraciouf- 
ly  condefcended  to  anfwer  me  in  thy  own 
time  and  way,  and  yet  I  am  again  doubt 
ing  thy  faithfulnefs  and  care.  Lord, 
pity  me  !  I  believe,  O  help  my  unbe- 
Jief !  Go  on  tofuccour,  go  on  to  par 
don,  and  at  laft  conquer  my  diffidence. 
Let  me  hope  againft  hope,  and,  in  the 
greateft  perplexity,  give  glory  to  God, 
by  believing  what  my  own  experience 

has  fo  often  found, That  the 

ftrength  of  Ifrael  will  not  lie  ;  nor  is 
he  a  man,  that  he  ihould  repent. 

While  I  have  memory  and  thought, 
let  his  goodnefs  dwell  on  my  foul;  let 

me 


1 88  Devout  Exercifes     XXXV. 

me  not  forget  the  depth  of  my  diftrefs, 
the  anguilh  and  importunity  of  my 
vows.  When  every  human  help  fail 
ed,  and  all  was  darknefs  and  perplex 
ity,  then  God  was  all  my  ftay  ;  then 
I  knew  no  name  but  his,  and  he  alone- 
knew  my  foul  in  adverfity.  Blefs  he 
Lord,  O  my  foul !  and  forget  not  all 
his  benefits. 

c  Long  as  I  live,  Fii  blefs  thy  name. 

r  My  King,  and  God  of  love  ! 
*'  My  work  and  joy  fhallbe  the  fame, 

*  In  the  bright  worlds  above/ 

I  have  yet  a  thoufand,  and  ten  thou- 
fand  deliverances  to  recount,  ten  thou 
fand  unafked-for  mercies  to  recall :  No 
moment  of  my  life  has  been  deftitute 
of  thy  care;  no  accident  has  found  me 
unguarded  by  thy  watchful  eye,  or  ne 
glected  by  thy  providence.  Thou  halt 
been  often  found,  unfought  by  my  un- 
g.ateful  heart  ;  and  thy  favours  have 
lurpnfed  me  with  great  and  unexpect 
ed  advantages;  1  hou  haft  compelled 
me  to  receive  the  blellings  my  fooLih 
humour  defpifed,  and  my  corrupt  will . 

lam 


XXXV.        of  the  Heart.  189 

fain  would  have  rejeited.  Thou  haft 
topped  thy  ears  to  the  defires  which 
would  have  ruined  and  undone  me, 
when  I  might  juftly  have  been  left  to 
my  own  choice  for  the  punifhment  of 
my  many  fins  and  follies.  How  great 
my  guilt  !  how  infinite  thy  mercy  ! 

Hitherto  God  has  helped  me,  and 
here  I  fet  up  a  memorial  to  that  good- 
nefs,  which  has  never  abandoned  me 
to  the  malice  and  ftratagems  of  my  in 
fernal  foes,  nor  left  me  a  prey  to  hu 
man  craft  or  violence.  The  glory  of 
his  providence  has  often  furprifed  me, 
when  groping  in  thick  darknefs.  With 
a  potent  voice,  he  has  faid,  Let  there 
be  light,  and  there  was  light.  He  has 
made  his  goodnefs  pafs  before  me,  and 
loudly  proclaimed  his  name,  the  Lord, 
the  Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious. 
To  him  be  glory  for  ever.  Amen. 


XXXVI. 


1  90  Devout  Exercifes    XXXVI. 

XXXVI. 

Some  daily  Experiences  of  the  gracious 
Methods  of  Divine  Providence  to  me, 
the  lea/I  and  moft  unworthy  of  all  the* 
Servants  of  my  Lord. 

FIRST  WEEK*. 


day's  experience  re- 
proaches  my  unbelief,  and  brings 
me  fome  new  evidence  of  thy  faithful* 
nefs.  Thou  haft  difpelled  my  fears,  and, 
to  the  confufion  of  my  fpiritual  foes, 
fc&ou  haft  heard  the  voice  uf  my  uiiifei^ 
But  a  lew  hours  ago  I  was  trembling, 
and  doubt  ing  if  thou  waft  indeed  a  God 
hearing  prayer:  And  now  I  have  a 
frefh  inftance  of  thy  goodnefs,  which 
with  a  grateful  heart  I  here  record. 
May  the  fenfe  of  thy  benefits  dwell  for 
ever  on  my  foul  ! 

2.  Thy  mercies  are  new  every  mor 
ning  :   Again  thou   haft  given  me  an-* 
inftance  of  thy   truth.     I  trufted   in 

God, 

*  The  divifion  of  thefs  Meditations  into  /evens,  by 
the  Pio'is  Writer,  fiems  to  tzll  usy  that  theft  were  the 
devout  thoughts  of  fix  weeks  of  her  life  ._ 


XXXVI,  of  the  Heart  191 

God,  and  he  has  delivered  me;  I  will 
love  the  Lord,  becaufe  he  has  heard 
the  voice  of  my  fupplication;  therefore 
will  I  call  on  him  as  long  as  1  live* 

3.  As  for  God,  his  way  is  prefect; 
the  word  of  the  Lord  is  tried.    He  is  a 
buckler   to  all  that   put  their  truft  in 
him.     He  has  pun&ually  fulfilled  the 
word  on  which  1  relied.     Blefs    the 
Lord,  O  my  foul ! 

4.  Thy  bounty  follows  me  with  an 
unwearied  courfe :     Language  is  too 
faint   to  exprefs   thy  praife  ,•  no  elo 
quence  can  reach  the  fubjeft .  My  heart 
is  warm  with  the  pious   reflection.     I 
look  upward,  and  filently  breathe  out 
the   unutterable   gratitude  that  melts 
and  rejoices  my  foul :  I  Daggered  at  thy 
promife  thro*  unbelief,   and   yet  thou 
haft  gracioi  fly  performed  thy  words- 
If  we  fometimes  doubt  or  faulter  in  our 
faith,  yet  he  abideth  faithful  who  has 
promifed. 

5.  With     the    morning-light    my 
health  and  peace  are   renewed:  The 

chearing 


igz          Devout  Exerclfes     XXX  VL 

chearing  influence  of  the  fun,  and  the 
fweeter  beams  of  the  divine  favour, 

fliine  on  my  tabernacle. Lord  !  why 

me?  why  am  I  aranfomed  pardoned  fin- 
ner  ?  why  am  I  rejoicing  among  the  in- 
ftances  of  fovereign  grace  and  unlimit 
ed  clemency? 

6.  1  boafted  in  thy  truth,  and  thou 
haft  not  made  me  afhamed  :  My  in 
fernal  foes  arc  confounded,  while  my 
faith  is  crowned  with  fuccefs. 

Oh  !  who  hath  tailed  of  thy  clemency, 
In  greater  me&fure,  and  more  oft,  than  I  ? 

7.  As  the  week  began,  fo  it  ends 
with  a  fcries  of  mercy.    Language  and 
numbers  fail  to  reckon  thy  favours; 
but  this  fhall  be  my  eternal  employ 
ment. 

When  nature  fails,  and  day  and  night 

Divide  thy  works  no  more ; 
My  ever  thankful  foul,  O  Lord  ! 

Thy  goodnefs  fhall  adore* 

SECOND 


XXXVI.      of  the  Heart.  193 

SECOND    WEEK. 

i«  T  Have  feen  the  goings  of  my 
•*-  God,  rny  King,  in  his  fan&ua- 
ry  :  But,  oh  how  tranfient  the  view  ! 
My  fins  turned  back  thy  clemency, 
and  yet  I  can  celebrate  the  wonders  of 
forgiving  grace. 

2.  What  do    I    owe  thee,  O   thou 
great  Preferver  of  men  !   for  eafy  and 
peaceful  fleep,   for  nights  unmolefled 
with  pain  and  anxiety  ? 

Thou  round  my  bed  a  guard  doft  keep; 
Thine  eyes  are  open  while  I  fleep, 

Not  a  moment  flides,  in  which  I 
am  unguarded  by  thy  gracious  protec 
tion. 

3.  Thanks  be  to  God,  who  has  giv 
en  me  the   victory,  through  the  Lord 
Jefus  ChrifL     Thou  haft  delivered  me 
from  the  fnare  of  the  fowler,  the  craft 
and  malice  of  hell,  and  kept  me  back 
from  finning  againft  thee  :   Be   thine 
the  victory  and  praife,    Hallelujah! 

4.  O  Lord  God  of  Ifrael!  happy  is 

R  the 


194  Devout  Exercifes    XX  XVI. 

the  man  that  putteth  his  truft  in  thee. 
I  left  my  burden  at  thy  feet,  and  thou 
haft  fuflained  me  ;  my  cares  are  diffi- 
pated,  my  deiires  anfvvered.  O,  who 
is  a  God  like  unto  thee  !  near  unto  all 
that  call  on  thee. 

'  5.  Thy  ftrength  is  manifeft  in 
weaknefs  :  Not  unto  me,  O  Lord  ! 
but  to  thee  be  all  the  glory. 

For  ever  thy  dear  charming  name 

Shall  dwell  upon  my  tongue, 
And  Jefus  and  falvation  be 

The  theme  of  every  fong. 

This  ihall  be  my  employment 
through  an  eternal  duration.  It  is  that  a- 
lone  can  meafure  my  gratitude.  The 
Lord  Jehovah  is  my  ftrength  and  fal 
vation  ;  he  alfo  fhall  be  my  fong. 

6.  Every  day's  experience  confirms 
my  faith,   and  brings  a  frefh  evidence 
of  thy  goodneis.     Thou  haft  difpelled 
my  fears,  and,  to  the  confufion  of  my 
fpiritual  foes,  hearkened  to  the  voice 
i>f  my  diftrefs, 

7.  I  will  love  the   Lord,   who  has 

heard 


XXXVI.       of  the  Heart.  1 95 

heard  my  fupplications.  I  made  my 
boaft  in  his  faithfulnefs,  and  he  has 
anfwered  all  my  expectations. 

THIRD     WEEK. 

i .  Ti  Jf  Y  laft  exigence  will  be  the  clo- 
JJYl.  {ing  part  of  life.  Oh  remem 
ber  me  then,  rny  God  !  thou  who  haft 
led  me  hitherto,  forfake  me  not  at  laft. 
Be  my  ftrength,  when  nature  fails, 
and  the  flame  of  life  is  juft  expiring ; 
let  thy  fmiles  chear  that  gloomy  hour: 
Oh,  then,  let  thy  gentle  voice  whifper 
peace  and  ineffable  confolation  to  my 
foul ! 

2.  In  fix  and  in  feven  troubles  thou 
haft  delivered  me,  and  been  a  covert 
from  the  tempeft,  a  hiding-place  from 
the  wind  :    Hitherto  God  has  helped, 
and  I  have  dwelt   fecure  ;  and  here  I 
leave  a  memorial  to  thy  praife,  a  witnefs 
againftall  my   future  diftruft   of  thy 
faithfulnefs  and  truth. 

3.  Every  day  of  my   life  increafes 
the  fum  of    thy   mercies:   The  rifing 

and 


196         Devout  Excrcifes       XXXVI. 

and  the  letting  fun,  in  its  conftant  re 
volution,  can  witnefs  the  renewal  of  thy 
favours.  Thou  waft  gracioufly  pre- 
fcnt  in  an  imminent  danger  ;  by  thee 
my  bones  have  been  kept  entire,  and 
tho.u  haft  not  fuffered  me  to  dalli  my 
foot  againft  a  ftone. 

4.  Blefs  the  Lord,  O  my  foul  !   and 
all  that  is   within  me,    blefs  his  holy 
name.   Blefs  the  Lord,  O  my  foul !  and 
forget  not  all  his  benefits  \  who  heals 
thydifeafes,  and  pardons  all  thy  fins.  O 
thou,  the  Great  Phyiician  of  my  body, 
as  well   as  of  my   diftempered  foul  ! 
thou  haft  reftored   and  faved  me  from 
death  and  hell.     Bleffed  Jefus !  thou 
haft  taken  my  infirmities,  and  bora  my 
ficknefs ;  the  chaftifementof  my  peace 
was   upon    thee,   and  by  thy  ftripes  I 
am  healed. 

5,  I  fubfcribe  to  thy  truth,  O  Lord  ! 
latteftit,  in  contradiction  to  infernal 
malice,  to  all  the  hellifh  fuggeftions 
that  would  tempt  my  heart  to  diffidence 
and  unbelief,  even  againft  repeated  ex 
perience^ 


XXXVI.       of  the  Heart.  197 

perience,  againft  the  fulleft  evidence  of 
the  divine  veracity. 

6.  Oh  thou,  who  never  flumbereft, 
nor  fleepeft  !  this  night  thy  watchful 
care  has  kept   me  from  a  threatening 
danger;  thy  eyes  were  open,  while  I 
was  ileeping  fecure  beneath  the  covert 
of  thy  wings . 

7 .  Another,  and  a  greater  deliverance 
has  crowned  the  day.  I  have  found  thy 
grace  fufficient  in  an  hour  of  temptati 
on;  thy  ftrength  has  been  manifeft  inmy 
weaknefs.     Thine  was  the  conqueft; 
be  the  crown  and  the  glory  thine  for 
ever.     By  thee  I  have  triumphed  over 
the  ftratagems  of  hell.     Not  unto  me, 
butto  thy  name  be  the  praife,  O  Lord  ! 

FOURTH     WEEK. 

i .  JnniS   not  one   of  a  thoufand  of 
A     thy  favours  I  can  record  ;  but 
eternity  is  before  me,  and  that  unlimi 
ted  duration  ihall  be  employed  to  re- 
hearfe  the  wonders  of  thy  grace.  Then, 
in    the  great  affembly,    1  will   praife 
R  3  thee, 


1 98          Devout  Exercifes      XXX  VI. 

thee,  I  will  declare  thy  faithfulnefs, 
and  tell  to  liftening  angels  what  thou 
haft  done  for  my  foul  j  even  for  me, 
the  leaft  in  thy  family,  unworthy  to 
wipe  the  feet  of  the  meaneft  of  the  fer 
vent  s  of  my  Lord. 

2.  Ho wnumberlefs  are  thy  thoughts 
of  love  to  my  foul  !   If  I  fhould   count 
them,  they  are  more  than  the  land  on 
the  fhore  :   Thou   haft  again  reproved 
my  unbelief,  and  given  me  a  new  eon- 
vidtion,  that  my  whole  dependence  is 
on  thee  ;  that  fecond  caufes  are  nothing, 
but  as    thou  doft  give   them  efficacy  : 
All  nature  obeys  thee,  and  is  governed 
at  thy  command. 

3.  O  rny  God  !   I  am  again  ready  to 
diftruft  fhee,  and  call  in  queftion  thy 
faith fulnefs.      Oh  how  deep  has  this 
curfed  weed   of  infidelity  rooted  itfelf 
in  my  nature !  but   thou  canft  root  it 
out. 

4.  Again  I  muft  begin  the  rehearfal 
of  thy  mercies,  which  will  never  have 
an  end,   for  thpu  doft  renew  the  in- 

ftances 


XXXVI.       of  the  Heart.  199 

ftances  of  thy  goodnefs  to  a  poor  un 
grateful  finner :  thou  haft  punctually 
fulfilled  the  promife  on  which  I  de 
pended  ;  thou  haft  granted  the  requeft 
of  my  lips,  and  led  me  in  a  plain 
way,  that  I  have  not  (tumbled. 

5.  This  day  I  have  received  an  un- 
expe&ed  favour.     I  doubted  the  fuo 
cefs  indeed;  but  thou  haft  gently  rebu 
ked  my  unbelief,  and   convinced  me 
that  all  things  are  poffible  with  thee, 
and  that  the  hearts  of  the  children  of 
men  are  in  thy  hands. 

6.  Whether  thou  doft  favour  or  af« 
fli<5t  me,   I   rejoice  in  the  glory  of  thy 
attributes  ;  in  whatever  inftance  they  are 
difplayed,    be  thy  honour  advanced, 
whether  in  mercy  or  juftice  :  I  muft  ftill 
aflert  the  equity  of  thy  ways,  and  af- 
cribe  righteoufnefs  to  my  Maker.  Yet 
let  me  plead  with   thee,  O  my  God  ! 
Since  mercy  is  thy  darling  attribute,  oh 
let  it  now  be  exalted  !    deal  not  with 
me  in  fe verity,  but  indulgence  ;  for  if 
thou  fhouldft  mark  what  is  amifs,  who 
can  ftand  before  thee  ? 


200  -Devout  Exercifes   XXXVI. 

7.  Thou  doft  heal  my  difeafes,  and 
renew  my  life  ;  thou  art  the  guardian 
of  my  fleeping  and  my  waking  hours. 
Glory  to  my  God,  whofe  eyes  never 
flumber. 

FIFTH    WEEK. 

i.  HPHOU  knoweft  my  fecret  grief, 
A*  where  my  pain  lies,  and  what 
are  my  doubts  and  difficulties.  In  thy 
wonted  clemency,  O  Lord  !  difpel  my 
darknefs  ;  leave  me  not  to  any  fatal 
delufion,  in  an  affair  of  everlafting  mo 
ment.  This  is  my  hour  of  informati 
on  and  practice  ;  beyond  the  grave  no 
miftake  can  be  ratified ;  as  the  tree  falls, 
fo  it  muft  for  ever  lie. 

2.  Thy  goodnefs  ftill  purfues  me, 
O  heavenly  Father  !  with  an  unweari 
ed  courfe;  new  inftances  of  thy  faith- 
fulnefs  reproach  my  unbelief.  I  fent 
up  my  petition  with  a  doubting  heart ; 
and  yet  thou  haft  gracioufly  deigned 
to  encourage  my  weak  and  ftaggering 
faith,  \vhich  has  often  wavered  and 

failed, 


XXXVI.          of  the  Heart.  201 

failed,  even  in  the  view  of  the  bright- 
eft  evidence  of  thy  power  and  truth. 

3.  Thou  doft  feem  refolved  to  leave 
my  unbelief  without  excufe,  by -renew 
ing  the  glorious  conviction  of  thy  clem 
ency  and  truth.  O  let  not  the  unworthi- 
nefs  of  the   objed:  turn  back  thy  be 
nignity  from  its  natural  courfe  ! 

4.  How  many  unrecorded  mercies 
have   glided  along  with   my  fleeting 
moments,     into    thoughtlefs    filence, 
and    long    oblivion  I    How  prone    is 
my  ungrateful  heart  to  forget  thy  bene 
fits,  or  (oh  amazing  guilt!)  to  make 
an  ungrateful  return  ! 

5.  Oh  never  let  my  falfe  heart  re- 
lapfe  into  diftruft  and  unbelief  again  ! 
Thou  haft  rebuked  my  folly,  and  put 
a  new  fong  of  praife  into  my  mouth. 
Let  thefe   infernal  fuggeftions  vanifh, 
that  would  once  object  againft  the  oft 
experienced    truth.      In   this  I    would 
ftill  triumph,  and  infultall  the  malice 
of  hell,     A   time   will    come,    when 
thou  fhalt  be   glorified  in  thy   faints, 

when 


202          Devout  Exercifes     XXXVI. 

when  thy  truth  and  faithfulnefs  (hall 
appear  in  fullfplendour,  when  the  beau 
ty  of  thy  attributes  fhall  be  confpicu- 
ous,  and  clear  from  every  blemifh, 
that  the  impiety  of  men,  or  the  malice 
of  devils,  has  charged  on  thy  moft 
righteous  providence. 

6.  Let  me  ftill  affert,  that  the  ways 
of  God  are  perfect  juftice  and  truth. 
I  have  a  frefh  inftance  of  thy  goodnefs 
to  boaft,   and  yet  my  ungrateful  heart 
is  even  now  ready  to  diftruft.     The 
Lord  increafe  my  faith  :   Let  thy   re 
newed   favours   filence    my    unbelief, 
to  fhew  that  the  Lord  is  upright  :   He 
is  my  Rock,  and  there  is  no  unrighte- 
oufnefs  in  him. 

7.  Teach  me    your  language,    ye 
minifters  of  light !  that  I  may  exprefs 
my   wonder  and   gratitude.     O  thou 
who  canft  explain  the  fecret  meaning 
of  my  foul  !   take  the  praife  that  hu 
man  words   cannot   exprefs ;    accept 
thofe  unutterable   attempts   to   praife 
thee. 

SIXTH 


XXXVI.       of  the  Heart.  203 

SIXTH     WEEK. 

f  .T  ET  me  go  on,  O  Moft  Holy  ! 
-*— J  to  record  thy  faithfulnefs  and 
truth  :  let  it  be  engraven  in  the  rock 
for  ever ;  let  it  be  imprefled  on  my  foul, 
and  impoffible  to  be  effaced. — What 
artifice  of  hell  is  it  that  fo  often  tempts 
me  to  diftruft  thee,  and  joins  with  my 
native  depravity  to  queftion  thy  truth  ? 

2.  Oh,    may  I  never  forget  this  re 
markable    prefervation !     Thy    gentle 
hand   fupported   me,  and  underneath 
were  thy  everlafting  arms.   Thou  haft 
kept  all  my  bones,  not  one  of  them  is 
broken  :  Thy  mercy  upheld  me,  even 
when  it  forefaw  my  infenfibility  and  in 
gratitude.      How  does  my  guilt  heigh 
ten    thy    clemency  !    How    wondrous 
is  thy  patience,  O  Lord  !   and  thy  rich 
grace,    that  only  gently   rebuked  me, 
when  thou  mighteft  have  taken  feverc 
vengeance  on  my  lins  ! 

3.  I  muft  again  begin  the  rehearfal 
of  thy  love.  Thou  haft  eafed  my  pain, 
Scattered  my  fears,  and  lenghtened  out 

my 


204  Devout  Exercifes      XXXVI. 

my  days.  O  may  my  being  be  devoted 
to  thee  I  Let  it  be  for  fome  remarkable 
fervice,  that  I  am  reftored  to  health  a- 
gain  ! 

4.  I  find  thy  mercies  renewed  with 
my  fleeting  days,  and  to  rehearfe  them 
lhall  be  my  glad  employment.  I  truft- 
ed  thee  with  my  little  affairs,  and  thou 
haft  condefcended  to  give  me  fuccefs. 
Lord  !   what  is   man   that   thou   doft 
thus  gracioufly  regard  him  ?  Even  my 
fins,  my  hourly  provocations,  cannot 
put  a  check  to  the  courfe  of  thy  benefi 
cence  ;  it  keeps  on  its  conquering  way, 
againft  all  the  oppofition  of  my  ingrati 
tude  and  unbelief ;  and  haft  thou  not 
promifed,  O  Lord  !  it  fhall  run  parallel 
with  my   life,  and   meafure   out   my 
days  ? 

5.  Jefus,    my   never-failing  truft ! 
I  called  on   thy  name,  and   thou   haft 
fully  anfwered    my   hopes  :    Let   thy 
praifes   dwell   on    my  tongue  ;  let  me 
breathe  thy  name  to  the  laft  fpark  of 
life.  Thou  haft  fcattered  my  fears,  and 
been  gracious  beyond  all  my  hopes  : 
My  faint  and  doubt  ing  prayers  have  not 

been 


XXVL       ef  the  Heart.  205 

been  rejc&ed  ;  but  ,  oh,  how  flow  arc 
my  returns  of  praife  !  how  backward 
my  acknowledgements  ! 

6.  Never  have  I  trufted  thee  in  vain. 
Lord,  increafe  my  faith  !     confirm  it 
by  a  continued   feries  of  thy  bounty  ! 
add  this  favour  to  the  reft  !  for  faith  is 
the  gift  of  God,  an  attainment  above 
reafon  or  nature.     I  am  now  waiting 
for  the  accomplifhment  of  a  promife  : 
Oh  fhew  me   thy   mercy  and  truth  ! 
Add  this  one  inftance  to  the  reft  :  and 
for  ever  filence  the  ftiggeftions  of  hell, 
and  my  own  infidelity. 

7.  How  rooted  is  this  curfed  princi 
ple  of  unbelief,  that  can  yet  diftruft 
thee,  after  fo  many  recorded  inftances 
of  thy  love !   How  long  will  it  be,   ere 
my  wavering  foul  fhall  entirely  confide 
in  thy  falvation?   Oh  my  God!   pity 
my  weaknefs,  give  new  vigour  to  my 
faith,   and  let  me  take  up  my  reft  in 
thee  for  ever. 


FINIS. 


I     N     D     E    X. 

o 

i  •  \^Upreme  Love  to  God,  -*  25 

2.  The  Truth  and  Goodnejs  of  God,  3 1 

3.  Longing  after  the  Enjoyment  of  God,  34 

4.  God  my  Supreme,  my  only  Hope,      fc  -  38 

5.  God  a  prejent  Help,  and  ever  near,  44 

6.  God  an  All-Jufficlent  Good,  and  my  only  Hap- 

pinefs    ^  46 

7.  A  Covenant  with  God,  jr 

8.  A  Thank-offer  ing  for  Saving  Grace,  54 

9.  Evidence  of  Sincere  Love  to  God,  60 

10.  AJJ'urance  of  Salvation  in  Chrift  Jefus,  64 

1 1 .  Thou  art  my  God,  69 

12.  ConfeJJionofjin,  with  Hspe  of  Par  don.  74 

13.  The  abfence  of  God  on  Earth,  -  79 

14.  Banifhment from  God  for  ever,  83 

15.  The  Glory  of  God,  in  his  works  of  Creation, 

Providence,  and  Redemption,  -  88 

1 6.  Longing  for  the  Coming  of  Chrift,  92^ 

17.  Seeking  after  an  Abfent  God,  -  95 

1 8.  Appeals  to  God,  concerning  the  Supremacy  of 

Love  to    him,  99 

19.  A  devout  Rapture;  or,  Love  to  God  inexpref- 

Jible  103 

20.  Self-reproof  for  Inactivity.,  1 1 2 

21.  -^  y^)/w/  /^/m;  of  approaching  Death,  115 

22.  ^f  devout  Rejignation  of  Self  to  the  Divine 

Power  and  Goodnejs,  1 2o 

23.  Redeeming  Love,  12$ 

24.  Pleading  for  Pardon  and  Holinefs.  129 

25.  ATrarifportof  Gratitude  for  Saving  Mercy.  136 

26.  Importunate  Requfjls  for  the  return  of  Cod  to 

the  Soul,  138 


INDEX. 

fi  7  •  Brea  thing  after  God,  and  weary  of  the  fiPorld.  147 

28.  <d  Prayer  for fyeedy  Sttntfijtcation;  156 

29.  Gratitude  for  early  and  peculiar  Favours       160 
30*  Af pi  ring  after  the  Vifion  of  God  in  Heaven.    164 
31.  A  Solemn   Surrender  of  the  Soul  to  God,      166 
32-  TVw/?   and  Reliance  on  the  Divine  Promifes,  168 

33.  Application  to  the  DivineTruth,  173 

34.  Glory  to  Gody  for  Salvation  by  Jefus  and  his 

blood.  -  -      1 80 

35.  AReviewof  Divine  Mercy  and Faithfulnefs,  138 

36.  Z)fl//y  Experiences  of  the   kind  Provi 

dences  of  God,  and  pious  Breathings 

ef  the  Soul  towards  the  heavenly  world t    190 


